Beam Shaper Features
Generally, a transmission type beam shaper (Diffractive Optical Element: DOE) is used to change the beam shape, but due to the effect of heat generation, it is not possible to maintain the performance when applied to high-power lasers, and the range of use is limited.NTT-AT 's reflective beam shapers can directly cool the elements using a cooling unit, allowing them to perform well even with high-power lasers of over 10 kW.
In particular, when used in laser processing applications, various beam shapes can be generated that are ideal for laser processing, such as top hat, ring, line beams, or non-diffracting beams like Bessel beams.
Principle of beam shaping
SEM photo of the surface
- The DOE substrate that functions as a beam shaper can be selected from SiC, Si, metal, etc.
- Light utilization efficiency depends on the gradation of the surface depth. Currently, up to 64 gradations are available.
- We design and manufacture beam shapers according to customer needs (wavelength, light source M2, incident angle, focal length, imaging pattern).
Relationship between surface gradation and light utilization efficiency
| Surface depth gradation | Light utilization efficiency |
|---|---|
| 16 | 93.1 % |
| 8 | 81.6 % |
| 4 | 53.2 % |
| 2 | 30.9 % |
Beam Shaper Application Examples
- Application to high power laser processing ... Reflective beam shaper for laser processing
- Application to thick steel processing, etc. ... Reflective beam shaper for forming long focal beam
- Various wavefront design examples ... Reflective beam shaper that allows free wavefront design
Reflective beam shaper for laser processing
We manufacture reflective beam shapers compatible with high-power lasers exceeding 10kW.We design, manufacture and provide patterns according to your laser specifications (wavelength, beam shape, single mode, multimode, beam size, etc.) and the desired output beam shape.
We can also provide individual installation jigs upon request. Please feel free to contact us.
Examples of beam shapes after shaping: circular (doughnut or top hat), rectangle, line, beam branch, etc.
Application example for laser processing
Lasers are used in a wide range of fields such as cutting, drilling, welding, marking, annealing, and ablation. increase.
Reflective beam shaper for long focal length beam forming
NTT-AT 's reflective beam shapers allow for free wavefront design. They allow for free optical design without the need for imaging lenses, and can generate non-diffracting beams such as Bessel beams and Laguerre-Gaussian beams.
The following figure shows an example of a Bessel beam. A Bessel beam with a focal point of 350 mm was generated, and the focal depth was more than ±100 mm.
Even under atmospheric turbulence, the change in peak intensity can be kept extremely small.
Reflective beam shaper that allows free wavefront design
NTT-AT 's reflective beam shapers allow for free wavefront design. They allow for free optical design without the need for imaging lenses, and can generate any beam shape.
For example, by inputting divergent light (5mmφ Gaussian beam) from an optical fiber into the DOE, we were able to generate images of Saturn (rings and central bright spot), a long and thin rectangle, and multiple beams 350mm away (below is a photo of the actual image formed).
We design beam patterns according to customer requests and manufacture beam shapers.
Specification example
The following specifications are examples. We can also accommodate requests for other beam patterns, optical designs, wavelengths, etc., so please feel free to contact us.| item | Specifications (example) |
|---|---|
| beam shape transformation | Gaussian → square (top hat) |
| laser wavelength | 1064nm |
| laser power | ～10kW* |
| Incident beam diameter | 30mmφ |
| Laser incident angle | 45° |
| Cooling capacity (100mm square) | 300W |
| shape | 40mm x 40mm x 0.5mm |
| Material | Si, SiC |
| light collection efficiency | No lens: 70% With lens: 95% or more |
* Please contact us for laser power exceeding 10kW.
Download materials
| Beam shaper for high power laser | download |
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Please contact us
Please feel free to contact us for inquiries such as an estimate.
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