Laser Processing Device

A laser processing apparatus comprising:

• a head portion configured to receive laser light emitted from a light source;
• a collimator housed in the head portion and configured to collimate the laser light emitted from the light source into parallel light;
• and
• a diffractive optical element housed in the head portion and configured to receive the parallel light from the collimator and produce a shaped light with a broadened radiation distribution.

A method of operating a laser processing apparatus, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a head portion, laser light emitted from a light source;
• collimating, by a collimator housed in the head portion, the laser light emitted from the light source into parallel light;
• receiving, by a diffractive optical element housed in the head portion, the parallel light from the collimator and producing a shaped light with a broadened radiation distribution;
• and
• processing a target surface of a structure using the shaped light produced by the diffractive optical element.