Flat-topbeam

Beam-shaping also offers the possibility of processing large areas at once, for example engraving product information without having to move the laser beam. For designing elements for large-area processing, the main challenge is the presence of speckle, which are artefacts due to undesired interference of light. LPT develops setups and algorithms to reduce the influence of speckle during processing. For testing new developments, low average power pulsed lasers are employed which allow using liquid crystal spatial light modulators instead of static diffractive optical elements. These modulators work similar to LCD screens and allow quickly displaying different structures without having to manufacture a new glass element each time. By using two sequential modulators, researchers from LPT showed speckle-free large-area beam-shaping.

Laserbeamhomogenizer

To shape laser beams, so-called diffractive optical elements can be used, which are glass slides with a surface relief of a few micrometers. By introducing a phase delay, they influence the propagation of light. The Institute of Photonic Technologies (LPT) works on predicting optimized beam shapes for specific applications, calculating the appropriate relief, and showing advantages in materials processing. As an example, this technique was successfully used at LPT for welding a crack-prone aluminum-copper alloy, which resulted in a weld seam quality close to a polished surface and an enlarged processing window.

Pi shaper

When you think about polarized sunglasses, you may think they’re only used for fishing, boating, skiing, or other sports where you would find yourself in an environment that has a lot of reflective glare, however, polarized sunglasses provide a clear view while blocking out sun glare from everyday activities such as driving or even going for a walk on a nice day. They can even be worn in most work environments!

Polarized sunglasses may not always provide UVA and UVB protection, but they do protect the eyes. When in a high-glare environment or surrounded by smooth, bright surfaces such as water, glass, or snow, polarized sunglasses minimize glare and enhance clarity. However, polarized sunglasses are not safe in certain scenarios, particularly driving at night.

When hiking or skiing in the mountains, polarized sunglasses may make it difficult to tell snow and ice apart due to both surfaces being white.

Beamexpander

Beamshaper

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Another more simple scenario is driving at night. Although polarized sunglasses help lessen glare from approaching vehicles, they don’t assist in nighttime driving and may even be dangerous because they block light in an environment where there is already little light, which can impair your vision.

Laguerre Gaussbeam

Developed in the mid-thirties, polarized lenses were a means to reduce dangerous glare from smooth surfaces like glass, asphalt, and water. Polarized sunglasses were the most logical evolution. They have long since become a mainstay of the eyewear industry.

The laser is a universal tool in materials processing. Focusing a high-power laser to a single spot allows various applications like welding and laser-based additive manufacturing. Heating and consequent melting of the material mainly drives these processes in which the laser beam acts as a heat source. For the processing result, resolidification is critical as defects like cracks can occur but also spatter might be produced during laser interaction due to overheating and turbulences in the melt pool. An important factor for these defects is the heat distribution in the work piece.

How to design a Gaussian to top hatbeamshaper

Despite polarized sunglasses being ideal for everyday use, there are some scenarios where you would be better off without them.

Not all eyeglasses require an eye exam, but you should still get both—eye exams every 2 years and glasses as often as like! With so many different types of glasses, it can be challenging to decide what kind of frames or lenses would suit you best.

Gaussianbeam

Ongoing research includes the direct manufacturing of beam-shaping elements in bulk glass, which would offer more degrees of freedom compared to a relief. Beyond additive manufacturing, beam shaping also plays an increasing role in other directions of research, for example as a tool in optical metrology.

Not all glasses are created the same. For example, sunglasses can simply be tinted eyeglasses, or they can be powerful shields from UV rays. When you go out on a sunny, hot day, you protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays by applying sunscreen, and the same protection should be applied to your eyes.

State-of-the-art lasers produce a focus that resembles either a bell (Gaussian) curve or a rectangular (top-hat) shape and therefore the resulting heat profile is predefined. Beam-shaping is a technique for influencing the shape of the focus and therefore forming the heat profile in a desired manner. This offers the possibility to mitigate defects and increase the processing window as well as the production efficiency.

The difference between polarized sunglasses and regular sunglasses is pretty simple. Non-polarized lenses provide light protection, but they lack an integrated filter to cut down on glare or block off horizontal light rays.

Polarized sunglasses reduce the ability to read liquid crystal displays, or LCD displays, which can be found in TVs, smartphones, computers, and the cockpit of airplanes. Therefore, a pilot wearing polarized sunglasses might not see a glint of light coming from the windshield of another plane. Polarized sunglasses might also be a problem for professions where it’s crucial to keep an eye on the score or data on LCD screens, such as sportscasters and analysts.

Polarized sunglasses can reduce the influence of intense or bright light, enhancing your visual clarity, contrast, and comfort, as well as your depth and colour perception. This is achieved by a film applied to the lens which only allows in vertical light rays and blocks horizontal light rays.