Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 073103 |
| Journal | Review of scientific instruments |
| Volume | 78 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| Publication status | Published - Jul 2007 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
We present a compact diagnostic breadboard that is based on an optical ring resonator for measuring beam quality and pointing of single-frequency continuous wave lasers at a wavelength of 1064 nm. To determine the beam quality of the coherent test beam, this optical resonator is used to perform a mode decomposition into Hermite-Gaussian modes. For our laser system, a power fraction in the fundamental Gaussian mode of 97.2%±0.2% was measured. Residual misalignment and mis-mode-matching to the resonator as well as the astigmatism and/or ellipticity of the test beam have been determined. Numerical simulations showed that measurements of the M2 factor and transversal intensity distribution are not suitable for determining this power fraction. To measure the beam pointing, the fundamental mode of the optical resonator was used as a stable reference. The pointing of the test beam was measured with the differential wave front sensing technique up to Fourier frequencies of 1 kHz with a sensitivity to relative pointing of ∫∫ =1× 10-6 Hz. Pointing measurements with an alternative method were performed and showed good agreement.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- Instrumentation
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In: Review of scientific instruments, Vol. 78, No. 7, 073103, 07.2007.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Laser beam quality and pointing measurement with an optical resonator
AU - Kwee, Patrick
AU - Seifert, Frank
AU - Willke, Benno
AU - Danzmann, Karsten
PY - 2007/7
Y1 - 2007/7
N2 - We present a compact diagnostic breadboard that is based on an optical ring resonator for measuring beam quality and pointing of single-frequency continuous wave lasers at a wavelength of 1064 nm. To determine the beam quality of the coherent test beam, this optical resonator is used to perform a mode decomposition into Hermite-Gaussian modes. For our laser system, a power fraction in the fundamental Gaussian mode of 97.2%±0.2% was measured. Residual misalignment and mis-mode-matching to the resonator as well as the astigmatism and/or ellipticity of the test beam have been determined. Numerical simulations showed that measurements of the M2 factor and transversal intensity distribution are not suitable for determining this power fraction. To measure the beam pointing, the fundamental mode of the optical resonator was used as a stable reference. The pointing of the test beam was measured with the differential wave front sensing technique up to Fourier frequencies of 1 kHz with a sensitivity to relative pointing of ∫∫ =1× 10-6 Hz. Pointing measurements with an alternative method were performed and showed good agreement.
AB - We present a compact diagnostic breadboard that is based on an optical ring resonator for measuring beam quality and pointing of single-frequency continuous wave lasers at a wavelength of 1064 nm. To determine the beam quality of the coherent test beam, this optical resonator is used to perform a mode decomposition into Hermite-Gaussian modes. For our laser system, a power fraction in the fundamental Gaussian mode of 97.2%±0.2% was measured. Residual misalignment and mis-mode-matching to the resonator as well as the astigmatism and/or ellipticity of the test beam have been determined. Numerical simulations showed that measurements of the M2 factor and transversal intensity distribution are not suitable for determining this power fraction. To measure the beam pointing, the fundamental mode of the optical resonator was used as a stable reference. The pointing of the test beam was measured with the differential wave front sensing technique up to Fourier frequencies of 1 kHz with a sensitivity to relative pointing of ∫∫ =1× 10-6 Hz. Pointing measurements with an alternative method were performed and showed good agreement.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34547603271&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1063/1.2754400
DO - 10.1063/1.2754400
M3 - Article
C2 - 17672751
AN - SCOPUS:34547603271
VL - 78
JO - Review of scientific instruments
JF - Review of scientific instruments
SN - 0034-6748
IS - 7
M1 - 073103
ER -