A laser diode apparatus including a diode laser, optics efficiently collimate the diode laser beam, and a narrow band reflector to provide optical feedback for wavelength stabilization of the diode laser in an extended cavity configuration. The extended cavity laser diode assembly has a low reflectivity coating applied to the front facet, and a narrow-band reflectivity engineered to optimize the output power from the diode laser, leading to power penalty-free operation of the extended cavity laser diode assembly as compared to a free-running diode laser. The extended cavity laser diode assembly can equally applied to a plurality of laser diodes, with either a single or a plurality of optical feedback devices forming the extended cavity configuration.