Beam combining grating with integrated apodizer

1 . An apparatus comprising:

an optical surface configured to receive multiple input optical beams, the optical surface comprising:

a grating configured to diffract first portions of the input optical beams in a first direction to form a combined optical beam exclusively in the first direction, the grating also configured to reflect second portions of the input optical beams in a second direction, the first and second directions extending away from a common side of the optical surface; and

a reflective surface at least partially surrounding the grating, the reflective surface configured to function as an apodizer to remove one or more unwanted portions of the input optical beams from the combined optical beam and to reflect third portions of the input optical beams in the second direction.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical surface is configured to receive the input optical beams arriving at different angles.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the grating and the reflective surface form an integral structure.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the grating and the reflective surface comprise separate components; and

the reflective surface is positioned over the grating.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a base;

a cover configured to be attached to the base and to secure the grating and the reflective surface; and

a housing configured to be coupled to the base.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the base is configured to be cooled in order to remove thermal energy from the apparatus.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a boundary between the grating and the reflective surface is serrated.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a boundary between the grating and the reflective surface is shaped based on a desired far-field profile of an output beam.

9 . A system comprising:

an optical device comprising an optical surface configured to receive multiple input optical beams, the optical surface comprising:

a grating configured to diffract first portions of the input optical beams in a first direction to form a combined optical beam exclusively in the first direction, the grating also configured to reflect second portions of the input optical beams in a second direction, the first and second directions extending away from a common side of the optical surface; and

a reflective surface at least partially surrounding the grating, the reflective surface configured to function as an apodizer to remove one or more unwanted portions of the input optical beams from the combined optical beam and to reflect third portions of the input optical beams in the second direction; and

a beam dump configured to terminate the second and third portions of the input optical beams.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the optical surface is configured to receive the input optical beams arriving at different angles.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the grating and the reflective surface form an integral structure.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein:

the grating and the reflective surface comprise separate components; and

the reflective surface is positioned over the grating.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the optical device further comprises:

a base;

a cover configured to be attached to the base and to secure the grating and the reflective surface; and

a housing configured to be coupled to the base.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the base is configured to be cooled in order to remove thermal energy from the optical device.

15 . The system of claim 9 , wherein a boundary between the grating and the reflective surface is serrated.

16 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising:

multiple optical fibers configured to provide the input optical beams; and

at least one transform optic configured to direct the input optical beams from the optical fibers towards the optical device.

17 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising:

an exit scraper configured to absorb one or more portions of the combined optical beam in order to generate an output beam.

18 . A method comprising:

receiving multiple input optical beams arriving at different angles at an optical surface;

using a grating of the optical surface, diffracting first portions of the input optical beams in a first direction to form a combined optical beam exclusively in the first direction and reflecting second portions of the input optical beams in a second direction, the first and second directions extending away from a common side of the optical surface; and

using a reflective surface of the optical surface that at least partially surrounds the grating and that is configured to function as an apodizer, removing one or more unwanted portions of the input optical beams from the combined optical beam and reflecting third portions of the input optical beams in the second direction.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

terminating the second and third portions of the input optical beams using a common beam dump.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein a boundary between the grating and the reflective surface is serrated.