Expand this Topic clickable element to expand a topic
Skip to content
Optica Publishing Group

Intensity influence on Gaussian beam laser based measurements using quadrant photodiodes

Not Accessible

Your library or personal account may give you access

Abstract

In many measurement applications using quadrant photodiodes, the signal is normally obtained from integrated devices incorporating current-to-voltage amplifiers that provide the necessary difference outputs with amplification. Quadrant photodiodes permit two-axis laser beam size and beam deflection determination. We show here that photodiode saturation, nonlinear characteristics of amplifying circuits, and voltage clipping features meant to prevent the output of a circuit from exceeding a predetermined voltage level to distort applied waveforms, play a significant role in measurement at low and high intensity levels, respectively. These two factors conspire to underestimate laser beam size measurement. A best-fit computation of the size versus power trend was found to permit satisfactory estimation of the beam size as well as the optimal laser power to be used. The intensity of light was also found to strongly affect the sensitivity of beam deflection measurements, in which a correction based on best-fit computation was deficient. In this case, calibration steps would be needed when light levels changed.

© 2010 Optical Society of America

Full Article  |  PDF Article
More Like This
Measurement of a Gaussian laser beam spot size using a boundary diffraction wave

Shigeharu Kimura and Chusuke Munakata
Appl. Opt. 27(1) 84-88 (1988)

Measurement of Gaussian laser beam radius using the knife-edge technique: improvement on data analysis

Marcos A. de Araújo, Rubens Silva, Emerson de Lima, Daniel P. Pereira, and Paulo C. de Oliveira
Appl. Opt. 48(2) 393-396 (2009)

High-energy flat-top beams for laser launching using a Gaussian mirror

Hiroki Fujiwara, Kathryn E. Brown, and Dana D. Dlott
Appl. Opt. 49(19) 3723-3731 (2010)

Cited By

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription

Figures (7)

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Figure files are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription

Tables (1)

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article tables are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription

Equations (7)

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Equations are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription

Select as filters


Select Topics Cancel
© Copyright 2024 | Optica Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved