Optics: measuring and testing – Lamp beam direction or pattern
Patent
1993-02-05
1993-11-30
Rosenberger, Richard A.
Optics: measuring and testing
Lamp beam direction or pattern
G01J 100
Patent
active
052670120
ABSTRACT:
A method and apparatus for determining the quality of a multimode laser beam (10). In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a lens (32) for creating a transformed or imaged waist from the input beam. The location of the transformed beam waist and its diameter are then determined. These steps can be carried out by chopping the beam using a rotating hub (34) having apertures (36,38) for selectively passing the beam. Preferably, one of the apertures has a pair of 45.degree. knife edges 40,42). The transmission of the beam past the knife edge is monitored by a detector (30). In operation, the lens focal position is varied while the transmission of the beam past the knife edge is monitored in order to locate and measure the diameter of the transformed waist. The diameter of the beam at one other known location is measured. A processor then calculates beam quality by fitting these measurements to a mathematical model. Once the quality of the beam is calculated, the location of the original beam waist and its diameter can be derived. Once all of the beam parameters are derived, the propagation characteristics of the beam can be predicted.
REFERENCES:
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Johnston, Jr. Thomas F.
Sasnett Michael W.
Coherent Inc.
Rosenberger Richard A.
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