Article
Improving laser beam delivery by incorporating axial-gradient optics
Applied Optics
(1997)
Abstract
The performance of the beam delivery system is one of the
key factors influencing the effectiveness, versatility, and
usefulness of a laser. In general, the beam delivery may be
by either free-space propagation or fiber-optic cable. The
optics used in the b eam delivery system determine the
ultimate performa nce of the system. Th erefore, wellcorrected
optics are required to realize the best possib le
performance. GRADIUMÔ lenses, whi ch o ffer
performance superio r to double ts-often diffraction-limited
performance is possib le-are the most cost-effective means
of obtaining optimal performance from a laser system.
However, the details of the beam delivery system (e.g.
fiber size or be am quality) make the use of diffractionlimited
(l/4) optics unnecessary in some applications. The
results of recent tests with GRADIUM lenses on pulsed
and CW Nd:YAG lasers are presented as examples from
which the requir ed optics q uality is estimated. Damage
threshold and absorption data are also presented.
Keywords
- Optical design,
- laser material processing,
- infrared and far- infrared lasers,
- fiber optics in general
Disciplines
Publication Date
1997
Publisher Statement
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Citation Information
Paul G. Sanders, Boyd V. Hunter, Keng H. Leong, Carl B. Miller, et al.. "Improving laser beam delivery by incorporating axial-gradient optics" Applied Optics Vol. 36 Iss. 13 (1997) p. 2763 - 2769 ISSN: 1559-128X Available at: http://works.bepress.com/paul-sanders/46/