Thermal lensing compensation
3 Dec 2014
A common problem in high-power lasers is the long warm-up phase and unstable operating conditions that appear if thermal lenses form in the optics used, says Thermal Components.
Thermal lenses are caused by the absorption of laser light in optical materials.
Even if the absorption is only in the ppm range, the local temperature increase within the optics is significant for lasers with several kW of power.
The low thermal conductivity of optical materials results in a strong temperature gradient, causing the resulting refractive index gradient to act as an additional lens.
To compensate for the thermal lens, TLC Optics can be used. This thermal lensing compensation passively accommodates the thermal lenses of high-power collimators and focusing optics.
A special material and design selection allows the reduction of thermal lenses in kW lasers to less than the Rayleigh length.
For more information, please visit: http://www.lasercomponents.com/uk/product/tlc-optics/
