The beam delivery refers to the path of the laser beam after it exits the laser cavity. Its design and configuration are crucial for various applications such as laser processing, measurement, and communication. Based on different application requirements, laser external optics can be categorized into several types.
By application, laser external optics can be classified into:
- Processing optics: Used for material processing such as cutting, welding, etc.
- Measurement optics: Used for ranging, velocimetry, profilometry, etc.
- Communication optics: Used for optical communication and free-space optical communication.
- Medical optics: Used for laser surgery and therapy.
From a systems engineering perspective, based on function, laser external optics can be classified into five categories:
- Focusing optics:
- Purpose: To focus the laser beam into a small spot, increasing energy density for processes like cutting, welding, and drilling.
- Key components: Focusing lens, beam expander, mirrors.
- Applications: Laser cutting, laser welding, laser marking.
- Collimation optics:
- Purpose: To transform a divergent laser beam into a collimated beam, improving beam quality.
- Key components: Collimator lens group.
- Applications: Laser ranging, LiDAR, fiber coupling.
- Beam expansion optics:
- Purpose: To expand the beam waist, reducing energy density or increasing beam size to match subsequent optical systems.
- Key components: Beam expander group.
- Applications: Laser cutting thick materials, laser processing large-area workpieces.
- Deflection optics:
- Purpose: To change the propagation direction of the laser beam using mirrors or galvanometers.
- Key components: Mirrors, galvanometers, scanning mirrors.
- Applications: Laser cutting, laser marking, laser scanning imaging.
- Beam shaping optics:
- Purpose: To shape a Gaussian beam into a special beam profile, such as a top-hat or annular beam.
- Key components: Spatial light modulators, diffractive optical elements.
- Applications: Micromachining, laser direct writing.
- Beam splitting optics:
- Purpose: To split a laser beam into multiple beams for different applications.
- Key components: Beam splitters, polarizing beam splitters.
- Applications: Laser interferometry, laser spectroscopy.
Factors affecting laser external optics design
- Laser characteristics: Wavelength, power, beam quality.
- Material properties: Reflectivity, absorptivity, thermal conductivity.
- Processing requirements: Cutting speed, cutting accuracy, surface quality.
- Environmental factors: Temperature, humidity, vibration.
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