{"id":5808,"date":"2016-05-11T11:05:43","date_gmt":"2016-05-11T11:05:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ophiropt.com\/blog\/laser-measurement\/?p=5808"},"modified":"2025-06-10T11:15:35","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T11:15:35","slug":"can-you-measure-laser-power-with-the-sensor-on-an-angle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ophiropt.com\/blog\/can-you-measure-laser-power-with-the-sensor-on-an-angle\/","title":{"rendered":"Can You Measure Laser Power with the Sensor on an Angle?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Glad you asked.<\/p>\n<p>Like many answers to many questions, the answer here is \u201csometimes yes, sometimes no.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To explain this, we must look at each of the three main types of laser power\/energy sensors: \u00a0<!--more--><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Photodiodes<\/li>\n<li>Thermal-based, or thermopiles<\/li>\n<li>Pyroelectric (energy sensors)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Within each category, we also need to consider any optical coatings and\/or accessories (e.g., filters, diffusers, etc.).<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a graph of Ophir\u2019s main power and energy sensor types, showing their relative angular dependencies:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/2016-5-11-blog-p1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5810 aligncenter lazyload\" title=\"Angular Response for Various Ophir Power Sensors\" data-src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/2016-5-11-blog-p1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"325\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 580px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 580\/325;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s say 98% is an \u201cexcellent\u201d response, and 90% is \u201cokay.\u201d\u00a0 If one wants an \u201cexcellent response,\u201d he could use the BF\/PF sensors practically at any angle, the Pyro (BB) sensors up to 40\u00b0, Thermal (BB) up to 30\u00b0, and Photodiode (BB) up to about 15\u00b0.\u00a0 Most other photodiode sensors as well as diffuser-based pyros cannot be used past 10\u00b0.<\/p>\n<p>If, however, one only needs an \u201cokay\u201d response of 90%, things are even easier.\u00a0 Almost all thermal and pyro sensors (except diffuser-based) can be used past 50\u00b0, and the Photodiode (BB) can be used up to 40\u00b0.\u00a0 Note that even in this case, most photodiodes and PExx-DIF (diffuser-based pyro) sensors cannot be used at a very steep angle.<\/p>\n<p>So that\u2019s the what.<\/p>\n<p>Now here\u2019s the why\u2026<\/p>\n<h2>Photodiodes<\/h2>\n<p>Let\u2019s start with photodiodes, used for <a href=\"\/?p=5267\">measuring low power lasers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The main factor that affects angular dependence in PD sensors is the filter, or multiple filters used to lower the incoming laser power.<\/p>\n<p>The bare photodiode is extremely sensitive so filters are usually a must.<\/p>\n<p>Ophir sensors come with one filter built-in and another detachable filter to widen its dynamic range:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/2016-5-11-blog-p2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5811 lazyload\" title=\"Photodiode laser power sensor - diagram of filters\" data-src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/2016-5-11-blog-p2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"442\" height=\"287\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 442px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 442\/287;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>To understand why filters must be used head on, we must think about how a filter works.\u00a0 Namely, it absorbs a portion of the incident laser power.\u00a0 The thicker the filter, the more it can absorb, as the laser must cross a larger distance.\u00a0 If a laser hits the filter on an angle, this will increase the optical path, as shown below:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/2016-5-11-blog-p3.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5812 lazyload\" title=\"Optical path through an attenuating filter (depends on incidence angle)\" data-src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/2016-5-11-blog-p3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"444\" height=\"224\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 444px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 444\/224;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This explains why angular incidence has such a strong effect on photodiodes (other than the BB, which uses a special coating rather than a filter).\u00a0 Note also that photodiodes with filter \u201cin\u201d (i.e., double filtering) experience a rather severe angle dependency.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, examine the curve for Photodiode (BB).\u00a0 Note that it, too, is slightly angle-dependent.\u00a0 The reason for this minor effect is that the higher the angle (the more it approaches a glancing angle), the more the surface of the photodiode reflects the laser beam.\u00a0 So in this case, the lower absorption in the sensor isn\u2019t due to a higher absorption in the filter (since there is no filter), but rather it reflects a lower absorption overall.<\/p>\n<h2>Thermal Sensors<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"\/?p=3088\">Thermal sensors<\/a> are not subject to the issue of optical paths in filters.<\/p>\n<p>First, most thermal sensors don\u2019t use filters, being able to withstand much higher powers.<\/p>\n<p>More importantly, though, is the fundamental difference between thermopiles and photodiodes:\u00a0 Photodiodes use semiconductors to convert <em>light<\/em> into an electric signal, while thermopiles convert <em>heat<\/em> into the signal.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, even in the case of thermal sensors with <a href=\"\/?p=783\">volume absorbers<\/a> (whose thickness <em>does<\/em> affect optical path as in the case of the PD filters), angle doesn\u2019t plays much of a role in the measurement.\u00a0 The light absorbed in the PD filter is not being measured, so it certainly is important to know how much of it passes through. However the <em>heat<\/em> generated in a thermopiles coating continues onwards to the sensor and is measured.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why in the graph above, both thermal sensor coatings (BB \u2013 surface, and PF \u2013 volume) stay almost the same regardless of angle.<\/p>\n<p>At steep angles, however, the issue of high reflection at glancing angles becomes a factor, which is why even thermal sensors aren\u2019t completely independent of angle.<\/p>\n<h2>Pyroelectric Sensors<\/h2>\n<p>This brings us to the final group of sensors \u2013 pyroelectric-based sensors, used for <a href=\"\/?p=5468\">measuring pulsed laser energy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Pyro sensors work on a completely different, third principle.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s how Ophir Product Manager Mark Slutzki explains it (link at the end of the post for his full white paper on incidence angles):<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThe laser pulse is absorbed by an absorptive material and becomes a heat pulse; the resulting acoustic pulse in a pyroelectric crystal (skipping over many details) finally becomes a measurable voltage signal proportional to the laser pulse energy.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>So, like in the case of thermal sensors, optical path is not an issue here.\u00a0 So that explains why the pyroelectric graphs are almost completely impervious to incidence angle.<\/p>\n<p>Except one.<\/p>\n<p>Note that \u201cPyro (DIF)\u201d is highly subject to changes in angle.<\/p>\n<p>The reason for this is pyro-dif sensors (usually seen as PExxxx-DIF-C, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ophiropt.com\/en\/f\/pe50bf-dif-c-pyroelectric-sensor\">PE50BF-DIF-C<\/a>) have a diffuser attached to the front.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike a simple attenuating filter or volume absorber, a diffuser acts differently for different angles, even with thermal or pyroelectric sensors.<\/p>\n<p>Why?<\/p>\n<p>A diffuser is used to make the laser beam larger.\u00a0 When the power density is too high, an expanded beam goes great lengths to make this much lower.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/2016-5-11-blog-p4.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5814 alignnone lazyload\" title=\"A diffuser is used to expand the laser beam in front of an energy sensor\" data-src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/2016-5-11-blog-p4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"286\" height=\"246\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 286px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 286\/246;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>But what happens if the beam isn\u2019t coming head-on?<\/p>\n<p>It will look like this:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/2016-5-11-blog-p51.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5818 lazyload\" title=\"Effect of angle on laser that passes through a diffuser\" data-src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/2016-5-11-blog-p51.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"252\" height=\"246\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 252px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 252\/246;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Part of the laser completely<em> misses<\/em> the sensor (indicated by a circle).<\/p>\n<p>That is why \u201cPyro (DIF)\u201d shows much lower absorption past 10 or 20\u00b0.<\/p>\n<h2>Summary<\/h2>\n<p>I like the graph above, but maybe another way we can view this data is with a chart.\u00a0 Let\u2019s see the maximum angle for each sensor, both at 98% absorption (\u201cexcellent\u201d) and 90% (\u201cokay\u201d):<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/2016-5-11-blog-p6.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5816 lazyload\" title=\"Summary of maximum angles based on sensor type and desired absorption\" data-src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/2016-5-11-blog-p6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"72\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 580px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 580\/72;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Glad you asked.<\/p>\n<p>Like many answers to many questions, the answer here is \u201csometimes yes, sometimes no.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To explain this, we must look at each of the three main types of laser power\/energy sensors:  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6206,"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":[5,551],"tags":[62],"ophirposttype":[349],"class_list":["post-5808","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-laser-power-energy-measurement","category-laser-power-energy-sensors-en-2","tag-power-measurement","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>Can You Measure Laser Power with the Sensor on an Angle? - Ophir Photonics<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Glad you asked.  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