Advanced refractive beam shaping optics for advanced laser technologies

Abstract

Performance of various scientific and industrial laser applications can be essentially improved when original intensity distribution of a laser beam is transformed from non-uniform profile to uniform or flattop one. The task of such a transformation is solved by series of refractive beam shaping optics of field mapping type. This solution is important in irradiating the cathode of Free Electron Lasers, confocal microscopy, biomedical fluorescence techniques, many industrial technologies like welding, cladding, hardening, various laser techniques in photovoltaics, homogenizing of pump radiation by building powerful femtosecond lasers and many other applications. The refractive beam shapers can be used with TEM00 and multimode laser beams, achromatic design lets it possible to provide the same conditions of beam shaping for several lasers of a certain spectrum range simultaneously, low inherent losses allow to use them with powerful laser sources, particular models can be implemented either as Galilean Telescope without internal focusing (collimated input / collimated output), or as Collimators (divergent input / collimated output). This paper will describe the principles of operation, design features of the achromatic refractive field mapping beam shapers; there will be presented examples of beam intensity transformation and effects on material processing achieved in several industrial applications.Performance of various scientific and industrial laser applications can be essentially improved when original intensity distribution of a laser beam is transformed from non-uniform profile to uniform or flattop one. The task of such a transformation is solved by series of refractive beam shaping optics of field mapping type. This solution is important in irradiating the cathode of Free Electron Lasers, confocal microscopy, biomedical fluorescence techniques, many industrial technologies like welding, cladding, hardening, various laser techniques in photovoltaics, homogenizing of pump radiation by building powerful femtosecond lasers and many other applications. The refractive beam shapers can be used with TEM00 and multimode laser beams, achromatic design lets it possible to provide the same conditions of beam shaping for several lasers of a certain spectrum range simultaneously, low inherent losses allow to use them with powerful laser sources, particular models can be implemented either as Galilean Tele...