Development of a novel beam profiling prototype with laser self-mixing via the knife-edge approach

Tan, Yuanfu and Wong, Hay ORCID: 0000-0003-1717-2653 (2023) Development of a novel beam profiling prototype with laser self-mixing via the knife-edge approach. In: Laser Beam Shaping XXIII, 2023-8-20 - 2023-8-25.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.2681594

Abstract

Laser is widely used in industry, biomedical and other kinds of fields. Beam size is the most important parameter among the laser variables. Typical state-of-the-art profiling techniques employ either a scanning-based or camera-based system, using photodiodes or image sensors as the signal receiver. Despite their profiling capabilities, these systems do not tend to be budget-friendly and easy to operate. In this paper, a novel cost-effective beam profiling prototype based on self-mixing interference was developed to measure the Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM) of a range of laser diodes by the knife-edge approach. The difference between our prototype and other systems is that the photodiode is placed behind the laser source, and beam size is calculated by analyzing the feedback signal. A commercial camera beam profiler was used to benchmark our prototype. Results show that though there is a variation of 45.29% between the measured beam size and the integrated beam size in the x directions due to diffuse and specular reflection, our USD 200 prototype has a high accuracy on the prediction of laser beam sizes. Our prototype could provide accurate predicted beam size for Gaussian-alike beam. This is the very first study to explore the application of self-mixing interference in laser beam profiling. It is believed that our proposed approach has contributed to the on-going development of laser beam profiling methodology.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Unspecified)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Clinical Research
Divisions:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	04 Dec 2023 08:21
Last Modified:	15 Mar 2024 03:02
DOI:	10.1117/12.2681594
Related URLs:	Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3177144