Counter-pumped fiber laser array system

A fiber laser system, comprising:

• an array of gain fibers configured to transmit signal light;
• an array of tapered end caps configured to receive the signal light from the array of gain fibers and output the signal light, wherein each gain fiber in the array of gain fibers is spliced to a respective tapered end cap of the array of tapered end caps;
• a counter-pumping light source configured to output counter-pumping light;
• and
• a dichroic mirror configured to receive the counter-pumping light from the counter-pumping light source and to receive the signal light from the array of tapered end caps, wherein the dichroic mirror is further configured to:
• allow the counter-pumping light received by the dichroic mirror to pass through the dichroic mirror and reflect the signal light received by the dichroic mirror;
• or
• allow the signal light received by the dichroic mirror to pass through the dichroic mirror and reflect the counter-pumping light received by the dichroic mirror;
• wherein the tapered end caps of the array of tapered end caps are tightly packed such that the array does not include any spaces between tapered end caps of the array;
• and
• wherein the counter-pumping light source is a single multi-element laser diode source configured to simultaneously output the counter-pumping light to the entire array of tapered end caps in parallel via the dichroic mirror.