πShaper – Refractive Beam Shaping Optics for Advanced Laser Technologies

Abstract

Laser beam shaping brings to various industrial and scientific laser techniques effects that improve their performance comparing to what can be achieved with using Gaussian or Gaussian-like laser beams: more stability, less tough positioning tolerances make the technologies easier to use, higher efficiency of using of costly laser energy, etc. 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, etc. The refractive beam shapers can be used with TEM00 and multimode laser beams, achromatic design provides 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 as Galilean Telescope without internal focusing or as Collimators. This paper will describe the principles of operation, design features of the achromatic refractive beam shapers; there will be presented examples of beam intensity transformation and effects on material processing achieved in several industrial applications.