Reflectiongrating

Cost: Acrylic laser safety windows are generally less expensive than glass windows, making them the better choice if you’re on a budget.

ThorlabsTransmission Grating

This line of blazed transmission gratings was designed for optimum performance in the visible and NIR spectrum, offering different levels of dispersion. In most cases, the efficiency is comparable to that of reflection gratings typically used in the same region of the spectrum.  Zero order data is included in all performance curves for those interested in beam splitting applications.

Transmission gratingspectrometer

Protection: Glass laser safety windows offer the highest visible light transmission and optical density protection, making them the safest and easiest to view through. Acrylic windows are often darker, with lower visible light transmission than glass windows, but still provide ample protection from lasers.

Sizes available from 4mm x 4mm, 12.5mm x 12.5 mm and 25mm x 25mm Request your custom sizing, as well. Download the Brochure

Transmission gratingformula

If you are still unsure about what you need for your laser system or what can be accomplished, don’t hesitate to call us at 1-866-575-1307, or contact us through our chat or e-mail us at service@phillips-safety.com so we can discuss what’s best for you. We are confident that at Phillips Safety you will find the perfect laser safety window for your needs!

Transmission gratingvs diffractiongrating

Laser safety windows are essential components for viewing and operating laser systems safely. They are used in a variety of settings, including enclosures, walls, glove boxes, and viewing windows of various sizes.

Transmission gratingexamples

A transmission grating offers a basic simplicity for optical designs that can be beneficial in fixed grating applications such as spectrographs (aka optical spectrometer). The incident light is dispersed on the opposite side of the grating at a fixed angle. Transmission gratings are very forgiving for certain types of grating alignment errors.

UV Transmission Gratings are produced on fused silica substrates providing superior diffraction efficiencies as low as 235 nm. Zero order data is included in all performance curves for those interested in beam splitting applications.

Durability: Glass windows can withstand direct contact from a laser beam for much longer than acrylic windows can. Glass has a higher melting point, so it takes longer for the laser to melt and penetrate the material compared to acrylic.

When it comes to selecting laser safety windows, the choice between glass and acrylic can be challenging. Both materials have their pros and cons, and your specific needs will determine which one to choose. In this article, we’ll explore the differences between the two materials and help you decide which is the best fit for your application.

An AR coating can be applied to the non diffracting surface of our visible Transmission gratings which increase diffraction efficiencies by reducing first surface reflection losses. Our standard AR coatings are designed to increase efficiency of the grating in the 400-800nm range. Please contact Optometrics for other spectral ranges.

Size: Glass laser safety windows are typically smaller, with common sizes of 6.5 x 6.5 inches. However, custom sizes and shapes are available. On the other hand, acrylic windows are available in larger sizes, up to 2 x 3 feet, and are easier to obtain in custom shapes and sizes.

Transmission gratingexperiment

There are several factors to consider when determining which window material is optimal for your application, including the size of your viewing port, the protection needed, and the possibility of a stray beam striking the laser window for an extended period before being switched off, for example.

By necessity, a transmission grating requires relatively coarse groove spacings to maintain high efficiency. As the diffraction angles increase with finer spacing, the refractive properties of the materials used limit the transmission at the higher wavelengths and performance drops off. The grating dispersion characteristics, however, lend themselves to compact systems utilizing small detector arrays. The gratings are also relatively polarization insensitive.