Method and apparatus for monitoring the power of a laser beam
AssigneeThe United States of Americas as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorsRobert D. Paris, Richard P. Hackel
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Abstract
A method for monitoring the power of a laser beam in real time is disclosed. At least one optical fiber is placed through the laser beam, where a portion of light from the laser beam is coupled into the optical fiber. The optical fiber may be maintained in a stationary position or moved periodically over a cross section of the laser beam to couple light from each area traversed. Light reaching both fiber ends is monitored according to frequency and processed to determine the power of the laser beam.
Claims15
A method for monitoring the power of a beam of laser radiation comprising the steps of:
- (a) inserting an optical fiber in the path of a beam of laser radiation, said optical fiber having a lengthwise surface extending between a first end surface arid a second end surface and having an inner core, said optical fiber being of a type in which at least a portion of a beam of laser radiation impinging on the lengthwise outer surface is coupled into the inner core, said optical fiber being oriented so that said beam of laser radiation impinges on at least a portion of the lengthwise outer surface so that a portion of said beam of laser radiation that impinges on said at least a portion of the lengthwise outer surface is coupled into the inner core;
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- (b) measuring the power of said portion of said beam of laser radiation coupled to said inner core through said lengthwise outer surface, whereby the power of the laser radiation coupled to said inner core is proportional to the power of the beam of laser radiation.
A method for monitoring the power of a beam of laser radiation comprising the steps of:
- (a) inserting an optical fiber in the path of a beam of laser radiation, said optical fiber having a lengthwise surface extending between a first end surface and a second end surface and having an inner core, said optical fiber being of a type in which at least a portion of a beam of laser radiation impinging on the lengthwise outer surface is coupled into the inner core, said optical filter being oriented so that said beam of laser radiation impinges on said optical fiber so that a portion of said beam of laser radiation is coupled into the inner core only through said at least a portion of the lengthwise outer surface;
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- (b) measuring the power of said portion of said beam of laser radiation coupled to said inner core through said lengthwise outer surface, whereby the power of the laser radiation coupled to said inner core is proportional to the power of the beam of laser radiation.
Apparatus for monitoring the power of a beam of laser radiation comprising:
- an optical fiber having a lengthwise outer surface extending between a first end surface and a second end surface and having an inner core, said optical fiber being of a type in which at least a portion of a beam of laser radiation impinging on the lengthwise outer surface is coupled into the inner core;
- means for disposing said optical fiber in said beam of laser radiation, said optical fiber being oriented so that said beam of laser radiation impinges on said optical fiber on at least a portion of the lengthwise outer surface, whereby a portion of said portion of beam of laser radiation impinging on said lengthwise outer surface is coupled into said inner core;
- and
- means for measuring the power of said portion of said portion of said beam of laser radiation coupled to said inner core, whereby the power of the laser radiation coupled to said inner core is proportional to the power of the beam of laser radiation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.