Techniques will be explored which enable multiple diode lasers to remain co-aligned at the output of a diode laser beam combiner by means of active automatic feedback. These innovations employ designs for minimal power, size, and weight appropriate to spaceborne diode laser transmitters. The project objectives are to design and evaluate a number of potential concepts from which the most promising will be selected. Thermal, piezoelectric, magnetic, and magnetostrictive concepts are evaluated on the sensitivity and range of control needed with minimal size, weight and power. The results will enable successful development of a practical co-alignment implementation and provide significant benefit in ensuring long-term operation of space optical links. Diode laser transmitters require the combining of multiple diode lasers from moderate and high data rate links. Successful results would eliminate the risk of long-term misalignment and improve link viability.There are a number of industrial-medical applications that can make use of automatic co-alignment of multiple diode lasers where they are used to form high-power diode laser beams for industrial trimming, cutting, and surgery.diode laser, multiple beams, co-alignment, active feedback
