1/e2beam diametercalculator

As a tool, the laser beam is characterised by certain properties. Fundamental properties of laser light are its monochromatic nature (one wavelength) and directionality (narrow divergence). In contrast to the beam from a normal light source, laser beams can be very sharply focused. In combination with a laser beam's high power density, a beam of such intensity and limited local focus can be generated that material can be melted or vaporised.

To learn more about what spectroscopy can do, check out #SpectroscopySolutions for more insights into the applications XRF and FTIR can fit.

Gaussianlaser beam diameter

Many interactions of light with matter depend on its polarization. For example, at a reflective interface, components of light whose polarizations are oriented perpendicular to the plane of incidence are reflected more strongly than those oriented parallel to it. At one angle of incidence in particular – Brewster’s Angle – the reflected ray is completely polarized perpendicular to the plane of incidence.

Laser beamdivergence and spot size

What is spot size oflaser beam

Controlling reflections is an important application of polarizers. If the specific interactions with the surface are of interest, then the polarizer can be oriented parallel to select only the reflected rays; if the reflections are an unwanted source of measurement noise, the polarizer can be oriented to reduce them.

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EM radiation has an electric and magnetic field component which oscillates in phase perpendicular to each other and to the direction in which the radiation propagates. These two oscillating fields are often visualised as in the diagram above and are continually self-propagating.

For waves with their electric fields perpendicular to the wires, the electrons cannot move far across the wires (remember, the diameter of the wires are much smaller than the wavelength of light). So the perpendicular light passes through un-blocked (save for very small amounts).

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Wire Grid Polarizers are included in the Specac polarizer product range. It consists of an array of fine parallel conductive wires placed perpendicular to the incident beam, with the spacing of the wires being smaller than the wavelength of the light being filtered.

Beam diametercalculator

Specac provide a range of infrared wire grid polarizers for use in analytical testing across the mid-and-far-infrared spectrum of light. Some of these are compatible with our spectrometer accessories, allowing the user to mount a polarizing filter directly into an accessory or sample cell, further refining their analysis.

Some light waves will be parallel to these wires and those electrons will move along the wires instead of passing through to the other side of the filter. Any electrons that are not angled at the same plane as the wires (perpendicular) do not collide and are therefore free to move to the other side.

In laser material processing, this is employed in laser beam cutting or welding, for example. Since the laser beam can do this work virtually without contact, it does not deteriorate during the process as does a drill or milling head. The laser beam is directed by the beam generator (laser device) via beam steering to the processing optics using a mirror or optical fibre technology. The processing optic concentrates the laser beam and focuses it, with focal lengths adjusted to the particular process. The typical properties of the focused laser beam are described by the minimum achievable beam diameter (focus) and the beam caustic. The caustic represents the path of the beam diameter coming from the processing optic to the focus and after it.

How to reducelaser beam diameter

Laser beam diametercalculator

It can be seen from the above that analysis of the laser beam tool by beam diagnostics must primarily be directed at the 4 named beam properties in order to describe or analyse the interaction of the laser beam with the tool during the process, and where applicable identify sources of error.

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Spot size oflaser beamformula

What we generally refer to as “light” is more correctly known as ‘electromagnetic radiation’ (often abbreviated as EM radiation). The the main characteristics of electromagnetic radiation are its frequency and wavelength (λ). We broadly classify frequency into types of EM radiation, such as radio waves, microwaves, terahertz, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays. In this sequence, radio waves are radiation with the lowest frequency (and largest wavelength) and gamma rays have the highest frequency (and shortest wavelength).

The orientation of the electric field plane is known as the “polarization direction” (E). This can be broken down into three basic categories:

In many spectroscopic and photonics applications, it is desirable to work with light that has been polarized in a particular direction. In this article we explore what polarization is, and how it may be obtained from an unpolarized light source.

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A significant parameter for laser material processing is so-called depth of focus, defined as Rayleigh length. It states the distance from the focus at which the area of the beam cross-section has doubled. If, for example, Rayleigh length and sheet metal thickness are adjusted to each other when laser beam cutting, straight cutting edges can be produced. If the sheet metal thickness is too great, the edges become increasingly more rounded.

Light that has been polarized is useful because it enables the user to be selective over what part of the electromagnetic spectrum is used (whether for photography, night-vision, coloured lighting or analytical measurement). Of course, this filtering of light can offer the user a finer level of detail for their application, similarly to a sharp knife or a small paint brush.