Apparatus and method for laser beam diagnosis

Details Apparatus and method for laser beam diagnosis Apparatus and method for laser beam diagnosis

1990-05-22

1991-08-27

Turner, Samuel

Optics: measuring and testing

By dispersed light spectroscopy

Utilizing a spectrometer

356345, G01B 902

Patent

active

050429507

ABSTRACT:
An apparatus and method is disclosed for accurate, real time monitoring of the wavefront curvature of a coherent laser beam. Knowing the curvature, it can be quickly determined whether the laser beam is collimated, or focusing (converging), or de-focusing (diverging). The apparatus includes a lateral interferometer for forming an interference pattern of the laser beam to be diagnosed. The interference pattern is imaged to a spatial light modulator (SLM), whose output is a coherent laser beam having an image of the interference pattern impressed on it. The SLM output is focused to obtain the far-field diffraction pattern. A video camera, such as CCD, monitors the far-field diffraction pattern, and provides an electrical output indicative of the shape of the far-field pattern. Specifically, the far-field pattern comprises a central lobe and side lobes, whose relative positions are indicative of the radius of curvature of the beam. The video camera's electrical output may be provided to a computer which analyzes the data to determine the wavefront curvature of the laser beam.

REFERENCES:
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patent: 4744659 (1988-05-01), Kitabayashi
patent: 4760537 (1988-06-01), Martin et al.
"Laser Beam Divergence Utilizing a Lateral Shearing Interferometer", Riley et al., Applied Optics, 10-1977, pp. 2753-2756.
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