MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ: MKSI), a global provider of technologies that enable advanced processes and improve productivity, has announced the Ophir® Focal Spot Analyzer, a laser beam monitoring system that measures the focus spot and power of high power lasers in real time.
The Focal Spot Analyzer measures focal spot size down to 35µm and laser power from <1 to 400 watts for wavelengths from 266 – 1100nm. Designed for laser applications with shorter working distances, the system monitors power density distribution of the focal spot and shifts in the focal plane location, and provides a well understood location of the laser caustic. It is so accurate that the distance to the camera array is NIST traceable. This is critical for applications that require a focused spot of light with a well-defined, narrow, and reproducible bandwidth and intensity profile, including medical device manufacturing and microwelding.
"Focusing a laser beam down to a small spot produces higher beam intensities and higher optical efficiencies," stated Gary Wagner, General Manager, Ophir Photonics (U.S.). "This is especially important in such applications as medical device manufacturing where the laser beam is focused to a spot size of a few thousandths of an inch diameter. The Focal Spot Analyzer allows the user to accurately know where they are measuring the laser spot and what the 2D distribution is at the measurement plane, which may or may not be at focus."
The Focal Spot Analyzer includes a high resolution camera – the SP928 CCD Beam Profiling Camera or the LT665 Large Array Beam Profiling Camera – an LBS-300s beam attenuator system with two beam splitters for polarization-neutral attenuation, BeamGage® beam profiling software, and a calibration certificate. The LBS-300s beam attenuator allows users to control and adjust laser beam output power reaching the camera. Approximately 99% of the beam is transmitted through each beam sampler with 0.01% passed on to the camera. The beam sampler provides an image that is polarization insensitive, which maintains the polarization components of the original beam.
Availability & Pricing
The Focal Spot Analyzer is available now. OEM prices available on request.
Focal Spot Analyzer data sheet can be found here