445nm diode with beam correction optics (anamorphic prism pair)

[ElektroFreak]

@Shrad: Maybe I'm misreading something here, but it seems like you're saying that the uncorrected diode "fast axis" is the narrower, less divergent of the two? If so, then it's not the fast axis. The fast axis is the wider of the two axes, and it's also the axis that diverges faster, hence the name.

[shrad]

I meant that ^^

the fast axis starts with a smaller dimension but expands faster, thus if you expand it its divergence lessens

or am I wrong? I may invert fast and slow axis but there are two approaches, compressing fast axis or expanding slow axis... I think I compress the fast axis in that case

if I'm inverting please tell me

[Laserman532]

not too likely that the smaller axis diverges "faster" than the larger axis...it just sort of works out that way. (when measured from the uncorrected die)

[Zoof]

@ shrad, the picture shows that the prisms are enlarging the dimension of the horizontal axis.

But coming back to fast, slow axis of diodes: which has the larger dimension and which has the larger divergence??

[Meatball]

I meant that ^^

the fast axis starts with a smaller dimension but expands faster, thus if you expand it its divergence lessens

or am I wrong? I may invert fast and slow axis but there are two approaches, compressing fast axis or expanding slow axis... I think I compress the fast axis in that case

if I'm inverting please tell me

It sounds like you've expanded the slow axis, so that it's divergence matches the fast axis.
Compressing the fast axis may give you a nice and thin beam at aperture, but the divergence may suffer.

[allthatwhichis]

It sounds like you've expanded the slow axis, so that it's divergence matches the fast axis.
Compressing the fast axis may give you a nice and thin beam at aperture, but the divergence may suffer.

What can't he compress the whole beam with a telescope next... Wouldn't that fix everything?

[shrad]

uh so thats what I've done no? it's starting to be a bit trouble in my head

with what I understand I expanded the fas axis width to get its divergence closer to the one of the slow axis

I tested the other way but it produces a fatter, fatter beam

[allthatwhichis]

Don't worry about it; do what works and someone else can do that math later.

[ElektroFreak]

uh so thats what I've done no? it's starting to be a bit trouble in my head

with what I understand I expanded the fas axis width to get its divergence closer to the one of the slow axis

I tested the other way but it produces a fatter, fatter beam

Sorry to confuse you, I had said that I was initially incorrect, and I think I simply miunderstood you. You're on the right track..

[Zoof]

Is there any particular reason why cylindrical lenses should work better than a prism pair?
I read that a few times already but I would be interested in knowing a little more background.