Laser power meter, laser energy meter, laser beam profiler, laser beam diagnostic, laser beam analyser by Ophir-Spiricon

Recently a Nd:YAG laser job shop had trouble for several weeks with consistency from several of their lasers. Laser burn patterns like those shown to the left, revealed uniform, near Gaussian beams. Shop managers and operators were perplexed.

YAG laser burn spots

However, when the beam was viewed with a CCD camera and Spiricon's LBA-100A Advanced Laser Beam Analyzer, the beam appeared highly distorted and off axis as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Beam clipped by misaligned turning mirror.

Immediately the operator said, "I know what's wrong, the turning mirror is out of alignment". Within a few minutes the operator had the beam aligned as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Beam with turning mirror adjusted by laser tech.

What is the cost of 2 weeks of laser down time, or even two weeks of erratic laser performance? How does this compare to the cost of a beam analyzer that can immediately illuminate the source of the problem and facilitate real-time adjustments?

Reason #2 For More Accurate and Reliable Laser Research

CREOL in Orlando, Florida is one of the hundreds of preeminent laser institutions pushing state-of-the-art laser research. Shown on the left is the output of the oscillator of the 95fs Cr:LiSAF laser as shown on the LBA-100A beam analyzer. Any scientist would be proud to see such a uniform, near Gaussian beam. However, the output of the terawatt amplifier, shown on the right, is slightly different: 1) "I've got work to do on the modes running in the amplifier", or 2) "At least I know what I'm getting from the amplifier, and I won't make erroneous calculations based on an assumed Gaussian beam".

Cr:Li SAF 95fs oscillator output.

After all, the laser may be used in an experiment that is nonlinear at the intensity cubed. If the actual peak power density is only 85% of an assumed Gaussian beam, this would create a 40% loss in the conversion efficiency. Can you afford a 40% error in your research?

Reason #3 For Better Laser Design

Shown on the left is a non-aligned CO2 laser beam measured using Spiricon's Pyrocam I camera and LBA-100A Laser Beam Analyzer. The user was able to tune the laser in real-time. He obtained a Gaussian beam in just a few minutes.

How much better would your IR laser perform if you could instantly see the beam profile?

CO2 laser measured with Pyrocam I and LBA-100A.

"But I've got burn paper spots that have always told me all I need to know!"

Sure, with a dynamic range of about 3, you can see your beam as clearly as the burn spots on the left. Depending on your dwell time on the burn paper, the diameter of the burn spot may be equivalent to 80%, 50%, or as little as 15% of total energy. Thus, your beam size measurement could vary as much as 100% depending on how hard you hit the paper.

Wouldn't greater accuracy increase your quality, reliability, and profits?

"My 'acrylic mode burns' tell me what I need to know about my CO2 laser!"

Perhaps, but they do not tell you all you need to know about short term and shot-to-shot fluctuations. Acrylic burns may tell you general information, but they do not provide the ability to tune or align the beam in real-time, or the ability to interactively solve alignment problems.

The world's largest CO₂ laser manufacturers are now using the Pyrocam I and LBA-100A. They are used in R&D to enable better designed lasers, and in production to ensure that the lasers are operating correctly when they ship.

These manufacturers have tried many different instruments, but find the Pyrocam I and LBA-100A to be essential to their operation.

So why Spiricon's LBA-100A instead of one of those other guys?

Quality Beam Views!
No other method shows you your beam as clearly as the LBA-100A.
Quality Measurements!
Only Spiricon has the patented "Autocalibrate" that assures correct beam measurements. Other versions of "Autocalibrate" fall one step short in obtaining the accuracy gained by the LBA-100A.
Easy To Use!
In side-by-side comparisons customers always comment on the simple menu system and logical, easy to use keypad.
Stick With the Technology Leader!
The LBA-100A incorporates the most advanced laser beam analysis on the market today.
Wide Range of Instruments
The LBA-100A, with CCD and PbO-PbS cameras, is an incredible instrument for measuring visible and near IR lasers.

The Pyrocam I, 1/2" solid-state camera, with the LBA-100A, tells you more about UV and mid to far IR beams than you ever imagined possible.

The LBA-100A driving the M² -101 gives you the accurate and essential information about your beam at focus that you need for precision laser applications.

The Pyrocam II 1" and 2" IR cameras, with the LBA-200, is the ideal way to directly measure your large area UV to far IR laser beams.