Electronically scanned waveguide laser arrays

The waveguide laser is a high energy density source of coherent radiation. The waveguide laser concept can be extended to a phased array of waveguide lasers which can be scanned electronically. It is pointed out that an electronically scanned laser array can produce power densities comparable with those of a chemical or gas dynamic laser. A carbon dioxide laser array is described. The electronically scanned laser array, when coupled with an optical receiver, could be used as a track-while-scan laser radar.