peak displacement between neighboring line beams is at least approximately if not exactly equal to the half maximum beam width depicted in fig9 of a single line beam e g of the front beam equivalently the displacement may correspond to the minimum resolvable spot size of the beam discussed previously in this specification the deflection angles are all less than 1 degree and in reality would not be detectable in the drawing of fig1 these angles have been exaggerated in fig1 for the sake of illustration the power density levels produced by the different groups of laser bars 34 0 34 1 34 2 34 3 are independently adjustable by a laser power controller 110 that furnishes independent supply currents i 0 i 1 i 2 i 3 to the respective laser bars 34 0 34 1 34 2 34 3 the laser power controller 110 therefore controls the fast axis power density profile produced by the array of lasers while their power densities may be the same corresponding to the power density profile of fig1 a it is preferable for the power densities of the trailing line beams to be less than that of the front or leading line beam in accordance with the various power density profiles of fig1 b 11 c or 11 d the successive line beam supply current levels i 0 i 1 i 2 i 3 may be adjusted by the controller 110 to produce a staircase profile of successively decreasing power density levels as in fig1 b or the single staircase of fig1 c or the gradual staircase of fig1 d as another alternative the amplitude profile may fall after the front or leading line beam and then increase from the third to last line.