Characteristics Of Efficient Laser Diode Collimators

A series of lenses for focusing and collimating the output of semiconductor lasers is described. The description of an anamorphic prism pair to convert the beam cross-section from elliptical to circular is also given. Designs which perform to diffraction limitation, yet lend themselves to low cost manufacturing are specifically considered. Correction for the aberrative effects of diode windows, a situation commonly encountered, is analyzed in detail.