Techniques are provided for laser illumination employing closely spaced laser beams. A system implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes a semi-cylindrical optical block comprising a curved surface and a planar surface. The system further includes two laser sources configured to direct first and second laser beams to the curved surface, such that the first laser beam enters and exits the block parallel to and offset from the planar surface by a selected translation distance, and the second laser beam enters the block at a critical angle relative to the planar surface. The critical angle is associated with total internal reflection of the second laser beam along the planar surface, such that the second laser beam exits the block parallel to, and separated from, the first laser beam exiting the optical block. The separation of the exiting first and second laser beams is controlled by the selected translation distance.