There’s a common misconception when it comes to choosing an energy sensor to measure high frequency pulsed lasers. The confusion begins when we look at the energy sensor specs and compares them to our laser.
BeamGage Professional and BeamGage Enterprise allow programmers to access all the functionality of the graphical user interface through LabView, Visual Basic, C++ and C#. This video is a short introduction to automation with a LabView demonstration.
Few lasers can be profiled directly with a camera. Attenuation is almost always a must. Sometimes you might need additional optics as well. I discussed how to determine what accessories you need and how to use them in a couple of other posts: ND filters Expanding optics Reducing optics But there’s another consideration I haven’t…
On the one hand, CW lasers will almost always have a higher average power. That means it’s harder for the power sensor head to cool down. This is not an issue with most short pulsed lasers. However,
When using a camera to profile your laser, it’s important to keep the ratio of laser size / pixel size higher than 20. Not only does this increase the resolution of your profile image, but it also makes your measurements more accurate. (If you have fewer than 20 pixels in your beam, the measurement accuracy…
Many of Ophir’s OEM power sensors have a maximum average power specification of “XX watts free standing, YY watts heat sinked.” In this video, you will learn some guidelines for making sure that a sensor has been provided with proper heat sinking so it does not get damaged.
A measurement is only as good as its accuracy. Take height, for example. As a kid, you probably had yearly checkups at your doctor’s office. Among other things, he measured your height. Imagine, you’re 12 years old and you can’t wait to see if you’re finally five feet tall. So your doctor has you stand very…
The average powers of pulsed lasers are getting higher and higher these days. With IPG Photonics’ fiber lasers, Trumpf’s solid state lasers, and others, pulsed lasers can have average powers higher than 100 W. This can pose a challenge when you try to measure and monitor your laser beam, as very few pyroelectric energy sensors can…
When you want to profile your laser, you’ll notice that CCD cameras are generally way too sensitive to use as is. I mean, try directing your laser at an unprotected CCD and see what happens.
Are you measuring a laser beam coming at an angle correctly? Ever wonder how your laser power measurements are affected by your beam’s angle of incidence? In this video, you will learn to what degree a beam’s incidence angle matters, and for which sensor types this should be taken into account.
Ok, so obviously if your laser beam is too big you can just use a beam reducer to get it to fit into your camera. End of story, right? Well, not exactly.
Beam Dumps are used to safely absorb the unused part of a laser beam, protecting nearby personnel and equipment. In this video you will learn about Ophir’s range of Beam Dump solutions for various power levels.