Bending a laser beam's cross section possible?

[flying fish]

So here's a crazy question...I was trying to think it through and have come up with nothing.

Is it possible to bend a laser beam's cross section? For instance, if you are using a diode bar (which has a beam cross section resembling a line) is there a simple way to bend it into a semi-circle, or V, or some other shape?

I don't actually have an immediate application for this in mind, I just happen to have a diode bar to play with...

 

[mgb_phys]

Yes, the easiest way is a holographic grating.
Cheap laser pointers normally come with a set of them that gives you lines or crosses or even more complicated shapes.

 

[flying fish]

Thanks! I will look into holographic gratings.