Laser hazard assessment with an eye simulator

Abstract

Optical radiation entering the eye is focused on the retina and produces a focal spot of relatively high energy/power density, depending naturally on the amount of energy or power entering the eye. The size of this focal spot is the critical factor in determining the hazard classification of an optical source.For laser beams this focal spot is extremely small and hence - the high optical hazard of laser radiation.Analyzing the hazard classification of laser products is commonly conducted by computational methods, assuming the laser source specifications as provided by the device manufacturer, are correct.In the following we present an eye simulator consisting of a gradual index lens and a beam profiler and its application to the analysis of a laser beam defined by the devices manufacturer as a “totally diffused beam”.It is shown that the product – assumed to emit a totally diffused beam, and hence – to be non-hazardous, emitted a partially non-diffused beam and had therefore to be classified as a Class 3B laser product.Optical radiation entering the eye is focused on the retina and produces a focal spot of relatively high energy/power density, depending naturally on the amount of energy or power entering the eye. The size of this focal spot is the critical factor in determining the hazard classification of an optical source.For laser beams this focal spot is extremely small and hence - the high optical hazard of laser radiation.Analyzing the hazard classification of laser products is commonly conducted by computational methods, assuming the laser source specifications as provided by the device manufacturer, are correct.In the following we present an eye simulator consisting of a gradual index lens and a beam profiler and its application to the analysis of a laser beam defined by the devices manufacturer as a “totally diffused beam”.It is shown that the product – assumed to emit a totally diffused beam, and hence – to be non-hazardous, emitted a partially non-diffused beam and had therefore to be classified as a Class 3B...