Similar to the well-established high power laser diodes in the infrared wavelength range, the laser diodes in the blue wavelength range require tailored optics for beam shaping, to make the light usable for a variety of applications. High power laser diode arrays or single emitters require fast and slow axis optical collimation for further transport or photonics applications using high power laser radiation. With increasing requirements in higher brightness for slow axis collimation different engineering solutions exist. By using novel production technologies, e.g. precision molding, approaches that were considered too expensive for mass production become available to broad application fields. Here we report about the benefits of molded refractive, freeform slow axis collimation optics and compare them to the ubiquitous standard circular cylindrical, as well as acircular cylindrical slow axis collimation optics. By using refractive free form slow axis collimation optics it is possible to achieve significantly better brightness compared to circular cylindrical or acircular cylindrical slow axis collimation optics.
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