{"id":3204,"date":"2013-10-02T12:02:43","date_gmt":"2013-10-02T12:02:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ophiropt.com\/blog\/laser-measurement\/?p=3204"},"modified":"2024-09-24T13:37:53","modified_gmt":"2024-09-24T13:37:53","slug":"an-easy-way-to-measure-m-squared","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ophiropt.com\/blog\/an-easy-way-to-measure-m-squared\/","title":{"rendered":"An Easy Way to Measure M-Squared"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>What is M-Squared, you ask?<\/p>\n<p>Basically, it\u2019s a measure of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ophiropt.com\/en\/laser-focusability-calculator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">how well your laser beam focuses<\/a>, or more accurately, how close it is to a perfect Gaussian beam.\u00a0 <!--more-->You can read more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ophiropt.com\/en\/n\/what-is-m-squared\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">what M<sup>2<\/sup> is and where it comes from over here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Diagram-of-M-Squared-Parameters.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-3205 lazyload\" title=\"Diagram of M-Squared Parameters\" data-src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Diagram-of-M-Squared-Parameters.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"457\" height=\"292\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 457px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 457\/292;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>Diagram of M-Squared Parameters<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Assuming you are already familiar with M<sup>2<\/sup>, you may also be familiar with some of the challenges that come along with trying to measure it.\u00a0 These can sometimes include a tricky setup and slow measurement process.<\/p>\n<p>Before we try to find an easy solution, we should probably nail down why M<sup>2<\/sup> measurement typically has these issues.<\/p>\n<h3>Finicky Setup<\/h3>\n<p>One must measure the laser beam width at multiple points along the beam path (or caustic) to get an accurate M<sup>2<\/sup> value for the laser.\u00a0 ISO only requires a minimum of ten measurement points, but generally, the more points that are measured, the better the result will be.\u00a0 (Also, it\u2019s easier to spot outliers when there are many \u201cinliers.\u201d)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Graph-of-Beam-Width-as-a-Function-of-Position-for-M-Squared-calculation.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3206 aligncenter lazyload\" title=\"Graph of Beam Width as a Function of Position (for M-Squared calculation)\" data-src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Graph-of-Beam-Width-as-a-Function-of-Position-for-M-Squared-calculation.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"424\" height=\"339\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 424px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 424\/339;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>Graph of Beam Width as a Function of Position (for M-Squared calculation)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>A compact M<sup>2<\/sup> measurement system might \u201cfold the beam\u201d by using motorized deflecting mirrors to check the laser at different points along the caustic, so this means that the laser must be positioned and angled just right at the entrance of the instrument.\u00a0 If it is somewhat at an angle or off-center, the beam might deviate off the sensor while traversing the caustic.\u00a0 Furthermore, it\u2019s not so easy to see what\u2019s going on when the measurement system is enclosed within a housing.<\/p>\n<h3>Slow Measurement<\/h3>\n<p>The relatively long time needed to measure M<sup>2<\/sup> also stems from the fact that the beam width must be measured at various intervals.\u00a0 Not only does this mean the mirrors or the detector must be moved in between each measurement, but it also means the power and energy density is constantly changing.<\/p>\n<p>As the detector moves in and out of focus, the power density gets higher and lower.\u00a0 We must change the attenuating filters in between each measurement to be sure the camera isn\u2019t saturated.\u00a0 This can be done automatically, but it still takes time.<\/p>\n<h3>A Simpler Approach<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/NanoModeScan.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3207 aligncenter lazyload\" title=\"NanoModeScan\" data-src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/NanoModeScan.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"398\" height=\"182\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 398px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 398\/182;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>NanoModeScan<\/em><\/p>\n<p>What if we just have the detector move along a rail and measure at different intervals?\u00a0 Since there\u2019s no need for mirrors, the setup shouldn\u2019t be as complicated.\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ophiropt.com\/en\/c\/nanomodescan-m2-beam-analyzers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NanoModeScan<\/a> is an example of an M<sup>2<\/sup> detector measurement using this method.\u00a0 Since this system is completely linear, you just need to check that the beam is in the NanoScan head\u2019s aperture twice: once at each end of the rail.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the lack of mirrors, NanoModeScan can be completely open so it\u2019s much easier to check exactly where the laser beam is aimed.\u00a0 (Although it also comes with an optional cover, in case safety is an issue.)<\/p>\n<h3>Scanning-Slit Benefits<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/NanoScan.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3208 aligncenter lazyload\" title=\"NanoScan\" data-src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/NanoScan.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"171\" height=\"271\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 171px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 171\/271;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>NanoScan<\/em><\/p>\n<p>On top of this, we get all the benefits that come with using a scanning slit beam profiler such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ophiropt.com\/en\/c\/nanoscan-profilers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NanoScan<\/a>.\u00a0 In this case, there are two main strengths that NanoScan lends to the situation:<\/p>\n<p>1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Very high dynamic range: Because of the naturally high dynamic range that scanning slits have, we don\u2019t need to worry about changing the filters between measurements.\u00a0 This means we can get the M<sup>2<\/sup> value much faster.<\/p>\n<p>2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Depending on the detector in the scanning slit head, pretty much any wavelength between deep UV and far IR can be measured.<\/p>\n<p><em>You might also like to read:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Permanent Link to How to Measure M-Squared \u2013 Two Choices\" href=\"\/?p=2683\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"bookmark noopener\">How to Measure M-Squared \u2013 Two Choices<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Permanent Link to Why choose scanning slit based laser beam profilers?\" href=\"\/?p=2230\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"bookmark noopener\">Why choose scanning slit based laser beam profilers?<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is M-Squared, you ask? Basically, it\u2019s a measure of how well your laser beam focuses, or more accurately, how [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8655,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[16,54,66],"ophirposttype":[349],"class_list":["post-3204","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-laser-beam-analysis","tag-beam-profiling","tag-m-squared","tag-scanning-slit","ophirposttype-blogpost-en"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>An Easy Way to Measure M-Squared - Ophir Photonics<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What is M-Squared, you ask? 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