Edmund Optics^®

Converting a Gaussian laser beam profile into a flat top beam profile can have numerous benefits including minimized wasted energy and increased feature accuracy.

The diameter of a laser highly affects an optic’s laser induced damage (LIDT) as beam diameter directly impacts the probability of laser damage.

Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensors are used to test the transmitted wavefront error of laser beam expanders, predicting the real-world performance of the beam expander.

Sliding focusing mechanisms for laser beam expanders cause less beam wander than rotating focusing mechanisms, but they use more complex mechanics and are typically more expensive.

Learn why the bulk laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) of glass is significantly different than the LIDT optical components with coatings, such as AR thin films.

Learn the key parameters that must be considered to ensure you laser application is successful. Common terminology will be established for these parameters.

Laser beam expanders are critical for reducing power density, minimizing beam diameter at a distance, and minimizing focused laser spot size.

Learn how to navigate the many available options for shaping the irradiance profile and phase of laser beams to maximize your laser system's performance.

Understanding the polarization of laser light is critical for many applications, as polarization impacts reflectance, focusing the beam, and other key behaviors.

Imaging biological materials can be extremely difficult. Masson's trichrome stain helps differentiate components of cells from their surrounding tissues.

Overspecifying optical losses in laser systems will not further improve your performance or reliability, but it could cost you additional money and/or time.

Laser Induced Damage Threshold describes the maximum quantity of laser radiation an optic can take before damaging. Learn more at Edmund Optics.

Surprisingly, intentionally clipping a laser beam going through a higher magnification beam expander can be the optimal solution.

Understanding the most commonly used laser optics materials will allow for easy navigation of EO’s wide selection of laser optics components.

Many lasers are assumed to have a Gaussian profile, and understanding Gaussian beam propagation is crucial for predicting real-world performance of lasers.

Beam expanders can be used in reverse to decrease a laser beam's diameter, but divergence will be increased.

Testing laser induced damage threshold (LIDT) is not standardized, so understanding how your optics were tested is critical for predicting performance.

There are several metrics used to describe the quality of a laser beam including the M2 factor, the beam parameter product, and power in the bucket

Not sure which beam expander will work best in your application? Check out EO's Beam Expander Selection Guide to easily compare each type at Edmund Optics.

Learn more about the advantages of using beam expanders in laser optics applications, with examples on spot size and beam size, at Edmund Optics.

Many challenges can arise when aligning a laser beam; knowing specific tips and tricks can help simplify the process. Learn more at Edmund Optics.

Laser induced damage threshold (LIDT) denotes the maximum laser fluence an optical component can withstand with an acceptable amount of risk.

Laser optics high reflectivity mirrors meet exceptional specifications that Edmund Optics' competitors often fail to meet. Learn more at Edmund Optics.

Compare Coherent Laser specifications with the Edmund Optics selection guide.

Power density, energy density, fluence, and irradiance are often incorrectly used in laser optics applications. Learn the correct definitions and usage.

Understanding the most common laser sources, modes of operation, and gain media provides the context for selecting the proper laser for your specific application.

The length of a laser resonator determines the laser’s resonator modes, or the electric field distributions that cause a standing wave in the cavity.

Are standard beam expanders not meeting your application requirements? Learn how to design your own beam expander using stock optics at Edmund Optics.

Metrology is critical for ensuring that optical components consistently meet their desired specifications, especially in laser applications.