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AssigneeCarl Zeiss Laser Optics GmbH
InventorsVitaliy Shklover, Holger Muenz, Michel Le Maire, Christian Hoess
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An optical system for shaping an incoming beam having a divergence with an angular distribution at least in a first direction comprises at least one angle selective optical element (26,28) for clipping the angular distribution in the at least first direction. The approach according to the present invention bases on using an angle-selective device (25,32) operated by the principle of total internal reflection to reduce divergence of the incoming beam, in contrast to a spatially-selective device as for example a field-stop or slit. The method according to the present invention has the advantage that no physical sharp edges have to be exposed at high energy densities. Thus, thermal impact and demands on the optical elements to withstand a high power laser beam are significantly reduced.
An optical system for shaping an incoming beam having a divergence with an angular distribution at least in a first direction, wherein said optical system comprises at least one angle selective optical element for clipping said angular distribution in said at least first direction.
A beam shaping optical unit for shaping an intensity profile of an incident beam and forming an intensity profile of an exit beam, wherein said incident beam has at least at one side a first intensity gradient due to a divergence of said incident beam at least in a first dimension, said beam shaping optical unit shaping said exit beam such that said exit beam has a second intensity gradient at the at least one side, wherein said second gradient is larger than said first gradient, said beam shaping optical unit forming said intensity profile of said exit beam by at least one total internal reflection.
A method for shaping an incoming beam having a divergence with an angular distribution in a first direction, comprising clipping said angular distribution in said first direction by at least one total internal reflection of said incoming beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.