The stress test was scheduled because the manufacturer is aiming to double the laser power (from 20 kW to 40 kW). The question therefore arose as to whether the aspheres with anti-reflective coating from LASER COMPONENTS, which had been specially optimized for laser cutting, would be able to withstand the increased power density.
LASER COMPONENTS looked forward to the test with confidence because a previously conducted LiDT measurement – a measurement in which the laser power is continuously increased until the optics are destroyed (irreversible change in the material structure) – had shown that the anti-reflective aspheres can even withstand a power density of at least 38 MW/cm².
The maximum destruction threshold could not be determined during this measurement, as the test house commissioned was not in possession of a laser that could generate power densities of more than the said 38 MW/cm².
If the power density of the LiDT test house is transferred to the 40 kW cutting laser, the result is that the beam of the cutting laser would have to be collimated to an industrially unrealistic diameter of 366 µm in order for the new power density (> 38 MW/cm²) to cause an irreversible change in the material structure of the asphere and its coating.
Further product information:
Aspherical Lenses
Manufacturer:
LASER COMPONENTS Germany / Laser Optics
Since its establishment in 1982, LASER COMPONENTS has always defined itself as a solution provider for optical and optoelectronic technologies. The customer spectrum of the owner-managed family company covers all industries that utilize light.
With more than 260 employees at seven locations on two continents, the company group generates about half of its sales with products from its own production including laser optics, avalanche photodiodes, pulsed laser diodes, IR detectors, pyroelectric detectors, laser modules, photon counters and fiber optic assemblies.
Laser Components Germany GmbH
Werner-von-Siemens-Str. 15
82140 Olching
Telefon: +49 (8142) 2864-0
Telefax: +49 (8142) 2864-11
http://www.lasercomponents.com/de
Marketing/PR
Telefon: +49 (8142) 2864-85
Fax: +49 (8142) 2864-11
E-Mail: presse@lasercomponents.com
