A broad area laser diode is an edge-emitting laser diode where the light-emitting region at the facet has a wide, stripe-like shape, such as 1 µm high and 100 µm wide. This geometry allows for high optical output power from a single semiconductor chip. 6 of the Laser Optics Resource Guide. The latter is essential in determining the uniformity of a beam profile over its propagation distance. Therefore, beam shapers are. A laser diode (LD, also injection laser diode or ILD or semiconductor laser or diode laser) is a semiconductor device similar to a light-emitting diode in which a diode pumped directly with electrical current can create lasing conditions at the diode's junction.