Laser beam conditioner using partially reflective mirrors

An optical system for reducing the interference contrast of a homogenized laser beam comprising

• a light source for emitting a coherent light beam,
• a homogenizer for homogenizing a light beam,
• a first beam conditioner plate having a first transparent substrate of uniform thickness having two less than parallel opposing surfaces, a first totally reflective mirror on one surface of said first substrate and a first partially reflective mirror on said opposing surface of said first substrate, said first partially reflective mirror having uniform reflectivity,
• wherein said coherent laser beam is incident at an angle to said first partially reflective mirror such that a portion of said coherent laser beam is initially reflected and a portion of said coherent laser beam is transmitted to be multiply reflected between said first totally reflective mirror and said first partially reflective mirror within said first beam conditioner plate, with a portion transmitted at said first partially reflective mirror at each multiple reflection, said initially reflected portion of said coherent light beam and said transmitted portions of said multiply reflected beams forming a first conditioned light beam, and
• a second beam conditioner plate having a second transparent substrate of uniform thickness having two less than parallel opposing surfaces, a second totally reflective mirror on one surface of said second substrate and a second partially reflective mirror on said opposing surface of said second substrate, said second partially reflective mirror having uniform reflectivity,
• wherein said first conditioned light beam is incident at an angle to said second partially reflective mirror such that a portion of said first conditioned light beam is initially reflected and a portion of said first conditioned light beam is transmitted to be multiply reflected between said second totally reflective mirror and said second partially reflective mirror within said second beam conditioner plate, with a portion transmitted at said second partially reflective mirror at each multiple reflection, said initially reflected portion of said first conditioned light beam and said transmitted portions of said multiply reflected beams forming a second conditioned light beam for said homogenizer.

An optical system for reducing the interference contrast of a homogenized laser beam comprising

• a light source for emitting a coherent light beam,
• a homogenizer for homogenizing a light beam,
• a first beam conditioner plate having a first transparent substrate of uniform thickness having two less than parallel opposing surfaces, a first totally reflective mirror on one surface of said first substrate and a first partially reflective mirror on said opposing surface of said first substrate, said first partially reflective mirror having uniform reflectivity,
• wherein said coherent laser beam is incident at an angle to said first partially reflective mirror such that a portion of said coherent laser beam is initially reflected and a portion of said coherent laser beam is transmitted to be multiply reflected between said first totally reflective mirror and said first partially reflective mirror within said first beam conditioner plate, with a portion transmitted at said first partially reflective mirror at each multiple reflection, said initially reflected portion of said coherent light beam and said transmitted portions of said multiply reflected beams forming a first conditioned light beam,
• a second beam conditioner plate having a second transparent substrate of uniform thickness having two less than parallel opposing surfaces, a second totally reflective mirror on one surface of said second substrate and a second partially reflective mirror on said opposing surface of said second substrate, said second partially reflective mirror having uniform reflectivity,
• wherein said first conditioned light beam is incident at an angle to said second partially reflective mirror such that a portion of said first conditioned light beam is initially reflected and a portion of said first conditioned light beam is transmitted to be multiply reflected between said second totally reflective mirror and said second partially reflective mirror within said second beam conditioner plate, with a portion transmitted at said second partially reflective mirror at each multiple reflection, said initially reflected portion of said first conditioned light beam and said transmitted portions of said multiply reflected beams forming a second conditioned light beam,
• a third beam conditioner plate having a third transparent substrate of uniform thickness having two less than parallel opposing surfaces, a third totally reflective mirror on one surface of said third substrate and a third partially reflective mirror on said opposing surface of said third substrate, said third partially reflective mirror having uniform reflectivity,
• wherein said second conditioned light beam is incident at an angle to said third partially reflective mirror such that a portion of said second conditioned light beam is initially reflected and a portion of said second conditioned light beam is transmitted to be multiply reflected between said third totally reflective mirror and said third partially reflective mirror within said third beam conditioner plate, with a portion transmitted at said third partially reflective mirror at each multiple reflection, said initially reflected portion of said second conditioned light beam and said transmitted portions of said multiply reflected beams forming a third conditioned light beam, and
• a fourth beam conditioner plate having a fourth transparent substrate of uniform thickness having two less than parallel opposing surfaces, a fourth totally reflective mirror on one surface of said fourth substrate and a fourth partially reflective mirror on said opposing surface of said fourth substrate, said fourth partially reflective mirror having uniform reflectivity,
• wherein said third conditioned light beam is incident at an angle to said fourth partially reflective mirror such that a portion of said third conditioned light beam is initially reflected and a portion of said third conditioned light beam is transmitted to be multiply reflected between said fourth totally reflective mirror and said fourth partially reflective mirror within said fourth beam conditioner plate, with a portion transmitted at said fourth partially reflective mirror at each multiple reflection, said initially reflected portion of said third conditioned light beam and said transmitted portions of said multiply reflected beams forming a fourth conditioned light beam for said homogenizer.

An optical system for reducing the interference contrast of a homogenized laser beam comprising

• a light source for emitting a coherent light beam,
• a homogenizer for homogenizing a light beam, and
• a partially reflective mirror on a first substrate and a totally reflective mirror on a second substrate, said partially reflective mirror and said totally reflective mirror being less than parallel, said partially reflective mirror having uniform reflectivity,
• wherein said coherent laser beam is incident at an angle to said partially reflective mirror such that a portion of said coherent laser beam is initially reflected and a portion of said coherent laser beam is transmitted to be multiply reflected between said totally reflective mirror and said partially reflective mirror, with a portion transmitted at said partially reflective mirror at each multiple reflection, said initially reflected portion of said coherent light beam and said transmitted portions of said multiply reflected beams forming a conditioned light beam for said homogenizer.