Leaky-wave interarray coupling for coherent-power scaling of phase-locked diode-laser arrays of antiguides

Long‐range coupling and phase locking of several 10‐element resonant antiguided arrays via (lateral) radiation leakage is demonstrated. Coupling occurs for interarray separations as large as 90 μm, as evidenced from far‐field patterns and spectrally resolved near‐field patterns. Diffraction‐limited‐beam operation is achieved from a 244‐μm aperture (four coupled 10‐element arrays) device. Intermodal discrimination between the in‐phase mode and adjacent higher‐order modes is shown to be maximized for a resonant ensemble.