a plurality of emitters each comprising:

an undoped large area waveguide region devoid of quantum well structure;

a plurality of ridge waveguide structures positioned separate from and overlaying said large area waveguide region; and

at least one quantum well structure formed only in each ridge waveguide structure, each at least one quantum well structure being separated from said undoped large area waveguide region by a doped lower cladding layer positioned substantially therebetween, each ridge waveguide structure and doped lower cladding layer having overlying contacts, the contacts at least partially overlying an upper surface of the undoped large area waveguide region, said undoped large area waveguide region and said at least one quantum well structure cooperating to amplify light of a single spatial mode determined by combination of said plurality of ridge waveguide structures and said undoped large area waveguide region;

a collimator optically coupled to said emitters;

a diffraction grating optically coupled through said collimator to said emitters; and,

an output coupler optically coupled through said diffraction grating to said emitters.