Techniques for laser beam sensing and profiling using temperature-sensitive structures

A method comprising:

• receiving, at a thermochromic interface of a detector, a laser beam characterized by a beam intensity profile;
• selecting a temperature set point for the detector, the temperature set point corresponding to an equilibrium temperature at the thermochromic interface;
• capturing an image of the thermochromic interface;
• determining, from the image, a partial intensity profile corresponding to at least a portion of the beam intensity profile;
• assembling a reconstructed beam profile using the partial intensity profile;
• if the reconstructed beam profile is not complete:
• selecting updated temperature set points for the detector;
• capturing additional images of the thermochromic interface;
• determining, from the additional images, additional partial intensity profiles;
• and
• assembling the reconstructed beam profile using the additional partial intensity profiles;
• determining that the reconstructed beam profile is complete;
• and
• outputting the reconstructed beam profile.