Wavelength combined laser system

A beam combiner, comprising:

• a beam separator configured to separate a combined beam into an output beam and a locking beam,
• the combined beam being a beam of light that is a combination of beams of light provided by source elements of a source array,
• each source element, of the source array, being configured to output a beam of light locked at a center wavelength different from center wavelengths of other source elements of the source array, and
• the locking beam including a portion of the combined beam that is smaller than the output beam,
• the smaller portion including a portion of the beam of light of each source element;
• a locking arm configured to prevent crosstalk within the locking beam, and to redirect the locking beam back to the source array;
• and
• a dispersive element configured to disperse the locking beam into a group of wavelength beams,
• each wavelength beam being directed to a respective one of the source elements, of the source array, for locking that source element at its center wavelength, and
• each wavelength beam corresponding in wavelength to the center wavelength of the respective source element.

A method, comprising:

• separating, by a beam combiner, a combined beam into an output beam and a locking beam,
• the combined beam being a beam of light that is a combination of beams of light provided by source elements included in a source array,
• each source element, of the source array, being configured to output a beam of light locked at a center wavelength different from center wavelengths of other source elements of the source array, and
• the locking beam including a portion of the combined beam that is smaller than the output beam,
• the smaller portion including a portion of the beam of light of each source element;
• preventing, by the beam combiner, crosstalk within the locking beam;
• redirecting, by the beam combiner, the locking beam back to the source array;
• and
• dispersing, by the beam combiner, the locking beam into a set of wavelength beams,
• each wavelength beam being directed to a respective one of the source elements of the source array for locking that source element at its center wavelength, and
• each wavelength beam corresponding in wavelength to the center wavelength of the respective source element.