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Laser Beam Profile Measurement

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Laser Beam Profile Measurement

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Given the different types of laser beam spatial distributions and their evolution as they propagate in free space and through optical elements, measurement of the beam profile is critical to quantify the irradiance at the point of the application. Monitoring the beam profile can also identify laser beam anomalies. This facilitates optimal alignment of a laser cavity or beam delivery optics resulting in significant improvements in laser processing (see Figure 1, for examples). Devices which measure and analyze the spatial distribution of a laser beam are called beam profilers and come in many different types, each with its own advantages and challenges. The basic types include array-based or camera-based profilers, mechanical scanning apertures, knife-edge scanners, and other devices. Since camera-based and scanning aperture profilers are the most common techniques, they are the subjects of this section. Camera-based systems are generally photodiode-based CCD (charge-coupled devices) or CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) devices.

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