Beam combination using interleaved optical plates

A method of combining waves of electromagnetic energy comprising:

• emitting a plurality of first waves at a plurality of first bars of a first plurality of wave emitters;
• emitting a plurality of second waves at a plurality of second bars of a second plurality of wave emitters;
• transferring the emitted plurality of first waves and second waves to an output region using a plurality of first plates corresponding to the plurality of first bars and a plurality of second plates corresponding to the plurality of second bars, wherein the plurality of first and second plates are interleaved and positioned with respect to the corresponding pluralities of first and second bars;
• reflecting at least one of the plurality of first waves and second waves at a reflection discontinuity;
• and
• outputting the emitted first and second waves as a combined output wave at the output region, wherein the first and second plates comprise first and second transmission plates, the method further comprising:
• positioning the first transmission plates so that a plurality of first waves emitted by the first plurality of wave emitters of each first bar enter input surfaces of the first transmission plates in a direction of propagation that is substantially normal to the input surfaces;
• and
• positioning the second transmission plates so that a plurality of second waves emitted by the second plurality of wave emitters of each second bar enter input surfaces of the second transmission plates in a direction of propagation that is substantially normal to the input surfaces;
• wherein the reflection discontinuity reflects emitted waves that enter the input surface of the respective transmission plate to the output surface.