New method for beam profiling high power CO2 lasers with an IR camera-based system

Abstract

Monitoring the beam profile of high power (above 2kW) CO2 laser beams with camera based systems has always been marginal because of the difficulty of sampling the beam without distortion from thermal effects in the sampling medium. Camera based systems offer the advantage of real-time imaging of the entire beam profile which in turn enables real-time tuning and alignment of the laser cavity, as well as instantaneous recognition of misalignment in delivery train optics or other components. Spiricon has developed a new and reliable method for the sampling and beam profiling of CO2 lasers at power levels up to 10 kW. The system consists of Spiricon’s Pyrocam III pyroelectric IR camera to image the CO2 radiation scattered from a homogeneously roughened surface.Monitoring the beam profile of high power (above 2kW) CO2 laser beams with camera based systems has always been marginal because of the difficulty of sampling the beam without distortion from thermal effects in the sampling medium. Camera based systems offer the advantage of real-time imaging of the entire beam profile which in turn enables real-time tuning and alignment of the laser cavity, as well as instantaneous recognition of misalignment in delivery train optics or other components. Spiricon has developed a new and reliable method for the sampling and beam profiling of CO2 lasers at power levels up to 10 kW. The system consists of Spiricon’s Pyrocam III pyroelectric IR camera to image the CO2 radiation scattered from a homogeneously roughened surface.