Fast axis wavelength beam combining for broad area laser diodes

An optical module comprising:

• a stepped structure that includes a plurality of steps;
• a plurality of laser diodes;
• a transform lens;
• a grating;
• and
• an output coupler (OC), wherein:
• at least one laser diode, of the plurality of laser diodes, is disposed on each step of the plurality of steps of the stepped structure,
• the transform lens is configured to receive a plurality of laser beams emitted by the plurality of laser diodes and to direct the plurality of laser beams to the grating,
• the grating is configured to receive the plurality of laser beams from the transform lens, to combine the plurality of laser beams into a single laser beam, and to direct the single laser beam to the OC, and
• the OC is configured to receive the single laser beam from the grating and to direct a portion of the of the single laser beam out of the optical module.

An optical module comprising:

• a stepped structure that includes a plurality of steps;
• a plurality of broad area laser diodes (BALs);
• a transform lens;
• and
• a grating;
• wherein:
• each step, of the plurality of steps of the stepped structure, is associated with a particular distance, in a lateral direction, from the transform lens that is different than respective distances of other steps of the plurality of steps,
• each BAL, of the plurality of BALs, is disposed on a particular step, of the plurality of steps, that is different than other steps of the stepped structure on which other laser diodes are disposed,
• the transform lens is configured to receive a plurality of laser beams emitted from the plurality of BALs and to direct the plurality of laser beams to the grating, and
• the grating is configured to receive the plurality of laser beams from the transform lens and to combine the plurality of laser beams into a single laser beam.