Laser Power Meter

Laser Power Meter

 

1、Description

 

A laser power meter is an instrument used to measure the power of a continuous laser or the average power of a pulsed laser over a period of time, as well as the stability of the power, and is an indispensable tool for a wide range of applications such as scientific research, industrial production, or in the workplace. Optical power meters are usually characterized by high accuracy, fast response and a wide range of power measurements to meet the needs of different application scenarios.

 

2、Appliance

 

- Maintenance and installation of fiber optic network engineering

 

- Teaching and Research on Optical Communication

 

- Lasers

 

- Laser Processing and Manufacturing

 

- Laser Medical Technology

 

- Material Processing

 

- Laser Communications

 

- High-Speed Wavelength Scanning Tests for Passive Devices (DWDM, AWG, WSS, etc.)

 

- High-speed scanning test for polarization correlation of optical active/passive devices

 

- Rapid capture of optical signals in the field of fiber optic sensing

 

- Fast coupling automated test system

 

- Optical Chip Rapid Test System

 

3、Categorization

 

      According to different application scenarios and principles, optical power meter is divided into different categories, the current Dimension optical power meter series products are divided into:

 

- Handheld optical power meter

 

- Optical power meter

 

- Thermoelectric Optical Power Meter

 

- High-speed optical power meter module

 

4、Principle

 

Photoelectric power meter is through the photoelectric effect of photocell/photodiode, directly converting light energy into current or voltage signal, so as to characterize the laser power. Therefore, this series of power meter products have high sensitivity and fast response time, but it is also easy to current saturation, more suitable for low power measurement.

Thermoelectric power meter is based on heat transfer, first converts light energy into heat, and then into an electrical signal. This series of power meter products response time is relatively long, while the spectral measurement range is wide, the power measurement range is large, suitable for high power measurement, can be used for pulsed lasers.

 

5、Selection

 

When choosing an optical power meter product, the model can be selected according to the actual application scenario, power meter principle and other conditions. The following factors can be considered when specifically selecting a model:

 

- Wavelength range:

 

Refers to the wavelength range of light that can be effectively detected by the optical power meter. Optical power meter measurement wavelength range is usually the ultraviolet band, visible wavelengths and infrared wavelengths. Dimension optical power meter products can choose the type of measurement wavelength range 200-1100nm, 400-1100nm, 800-1700nm.

 

- Power Range and Accuracy:

 

Selection of power meter products need to consider the maximum and minimum power to be measured, as well as the minimum power resolution required, the appropriate power measurement range and resolution in order to measure the accurate power value. Dimension Optical Power Meter products are available in pW, μW, mW, W, up to thousands of watts.

 

- Spot Diameter:

 

Measurement of laser power needs to be clear whether to measure free space light or fiber optic light, the measurement of different forms of light need to use different probe interface. Measurement of space light needs to specify the size of the spot diameter, the effective detection size of the selected probe needs to be greater than or equal to the diameter of the spot, so as to effectively detect the accurate power value of the entire spot. Dimension power meter products can be both fiber optic light measurement, and can detect the space light, the probe's various effective detection area is suitable for a variety of sizes of beam power measurement.

 

- Damage Threshold:

 

Refers to the maximum optical power density (continuous light source) or maximum energy density (pulsed light source) that the optical power meter probe can withstand, the common unit is W/cm2 and J/cm2 respectively. maximum average power density is one of the key parameters of the power meter, the actual measurement of the beam's energy must be less than the damage threshold of the optical power meter, or else it will cause great damage to the power meter. Dimension optical power meter products use different detection materials, the probe has a high damage threshold, compatible with a variety of energy levels of optical power measurement.

 

- Meter head and host computer software:

 

Optical power measurement results are usually displayed on the meter head or connected to a host computer. The meter head displays the measurement results in a convenient and easy-to-use way, and the connection to the host computer can show the power meter functions in detail. Dimension Optical Power Meter has many types of probes, which can be connected to both the meter head and the host computer for software operation.

 

6、Caveat

 

- The use of optical power meter need to pay attention to keep the instrument clean, to avoid dust and other impurities on the measurement results.

 

- Before using the power meter need to pay attention to the damage threshold to avoid damage to the detector parts.

 

- During the measurement process, pay attention to avoid the probe or connecting cable being pulled or bent to ensure the accuracy and stability of the measurement.

 

- To measure the laser power of different wavelengths, it is necessary to set the corresponding wavelengths in advance.

 

- Pulsed laser power density calculation formula: ρ peak power = E/W × S

 

- Continuous laser power density calculation formula: ρ peak power = P average / S, where, P-power, W-pulse width, E-single pulse energy, F-repeat frequency, ρ- Density

 

- Do not use in humid, flammable and explosive environment.