Components for systems with a demanding beam stability

Altechna can provide different solutions for your demanding beam stability applications with regard to your requirements, by offering a variety of optics with a low thermal response and high beam stability within an acceptable pricing range.

 

Components for high-power laser scanning or wide beam applications

Finding the proper optics becomes even more difficult when the laser beam needs to be scanned through the optics surface or when larger beam diameters above 4 mm are employed.

This is because of the random defects, which at high-quality optics typically appear in very low densities and, in general, are not that harmful in the cases previously described.

The optical component manufacturing processes can induce scratches and digs, while polishing is associated with the formation of the Beilby layer. Nodules can also appear during the coating process.

These randomly distributed defects can increase localized absorptance, which makes them dangerous, especially for CW or other long laser pulses. The conventional approach to LIDT testing, which involves testing a matrix of multiple isolated dots (T-on-1), is not suitable for all applications [4].

In these instances, a raster scan is required. When exposed to a narrow laser beam, considering the size of the component, the chances of hitting these defects are low. This is particularly true when the defect density has been reduced within the manufacturing process already.

However, while using a narrow beam in LIDT testing, the raster scanning procedure is the only way to determine the suitability of the components for materials processing, additive manufacturing or even mining industry applications, where a large area of the optics surface needs to be irradiated.

 

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