Novel full beam caustic M-squared measurement system with more efficient use of sensor area

Michael Scaggs; Gil Haas

doi:10.1117/12.2650558

15 March 2023 Novel full beam caustic M-squared measurement system with more efficient use of sensor area

Michael Scaggs, Gil Haas

Proceedings Volume 12407, Laser Resonators, Microresonators, and Beam Control XXV; 124070C (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2650558
Event: SPIE LASE, 2023, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

A new method has been developed that permits the measurement of a fully focused laser beam caustic in real-time by utilizing more of the pixelated sensor’s area. In the majority of systems, the signal to noise ratio of the spatial time slices beyond the second Rayleigh range in contrast to the first Rayleigh range is very poor and the sensor and associated software is incapable of measuring these regions with good accuracy. A unique optical concept has been implemented whereby the signal to noise ratio of the spatial time slices beyond the second Rayleigh range can be comparable that of the spatial time slices in the first Rayleigh range. This technique takes advantage of using more of the pixelated sensor’s area to get more of these spatial time slices on the sensor at the same time. Rather than using a linear array of spots, a matrix array of spatial time slices is created with a novel optical design. Previous methods achieved this using a single linear array, but the spatial time slices can be a bit crowded and therefore limit the measurements to a beam waist less than about sixty microns and requires an expensive, specialized optic. In this new approach, the beam waist can be increased to several hundred microns. This opens up a wider dynamic range of measurements with greater efficiency and less expensive optics to accomplish the task for a true easy to use, real-time M-squared measurement system.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Michael Scaggs and Gil Haas "Novel full beam caustic M-squared measurement system with more efficient use of sensor area", Proc. SPIE 12407, Laser Resonators, Microresonators, and Beam Control XXV, 124070C (15 March 2023); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2650558

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