Waveguide architecture, waveguide devices for laser processing and beam control, and laser processing applications

A face pumped planar waveguide laser system comprising:

• a planar waveguide gain section including:
• a first core extending along the length of a first section and having a pump input surface for receiving pumping radiation at a pumping wavelength and further having at least one output surface for emitting a laser output beam at an output wavelength;
• an array of pump diodes for face pumping of a gain medium of the gain section;
• a heat sink in thermal contact with the array of pump diodes;
• means for collecting energy from the pump diodes and directing the energy toward a first face of a planar waveguide device;
• and
• a non-planar reflector for substantially confining pump energy to the waveguide device, the reflector positioned relative to a second face of the planar waveguide device, wherein the pump energy emitted from the array of pump diodes is reflected from the reflector and redirected to the gain medium of the laser.