Absorption driven focus shift

N. Harrop; S. Wolf; O. Maerten; K. Dudek; S. Ballach; R. Kramer

doi:10.1117/12.2212682

18 March 2016 Absorption driven focus shift

N. Harrop, S. Wolf, O. Maerten, K. Dudek, S. Ballach, R. Kramer

Proceedings Volume 9741, High-Power Laser Materials Processing: Lasers, Beam Delivery, Diagnostics, and Applications V; 97410P (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2212682
Event: SPIE LASE, 2016, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Modern high brilliance near infrared lasers have seen a tremendous growth in applications throughout the world. Increased productivity has been achieved by higher laser power and increased brilliance of lasers. Positive impacts on the performance and costs of parts are opposed to threats on process stability and quality, namely shift of focus position over time. A high initial process quality will be reduced by contamination of optics, eventually leading to a focus shift or even destruction of the optics.

Focus analysis at full power of multi-kilowatt high brilliance lasers is a very demanding task because of high power densities in the spot and the high power load on optical elements. With the newly developed high power projection optics, the High-Power Micro-Spot Monitor High Brilliance (HP-MSM-HB) is able to measure focus diameter as low as 20 μm at power levels up to 10 kW at very low internal focus shift.

A main driving factor behind thermally induced focus shift is the absorption level of the optical element. A newly developed measuring system is designed to determine the relative absorption level in reference to a gold standard. Test results presented show a direct correlation between absorption levels and focus shift.

The ability to determine the absorption level of optical elements as well as their performance at full processing power before they are put to use, enables a high level of quality assurance for optics manufacturers and processing head manufacturers alike.

Citation Download Citation

N. Harrop, S. Wolf, O. Maerten, K. Dudek, S. Ballach, and R. Kramer "Absorption driven focus shift", Proc. SPIE 9741, High-Power Laser Materials Processing: Lasers, Beam Delivery, Diagnostics, and Applications V, 97410P (18 March 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2212682

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