Pulsed Power Measurements

Mark Slutzki, Product Manager, Ophir Optronics

If the full features of the Helios, including protective cover, Profinet interface, and pulse width measurement are not needed, similar performance can be obtained with the L40(150)A-LP2-50. The L40(150)A-LP2-50 has the same sensor as the Helios. It can measure powers from short exposure from a few 10's of W up to 10,000 W. The user measures the energy of the pulse and, knowing the pulse width, calculates the power (e.g. 5000 J in a 0.5 s pulse = 10,000 W). If using the StarBright meter, this can be calculated directly by inputting the laser pulse width into the Pulsed Power screen of the StarBright and by exposing the sensor to the power for the requisite pulse width. The L40(150)A-LP2-50 will then directly give the power reading from the pulse energy measured.

For lower powers, the L30C-LP2-26-SH will give similar performance for energies up to 2000J.

There are currently four sensors that the Ophir Sensor Finder utility will suggest with a function to operate in this mode:

• L40(150)A-LP2-50
• L40(150)A
• L50(150)A
• L30C-LP2-26-SH

As stated above, with the StarBight display it is possible to input the pulse width to get a direct reading of power from the pulse.

Ophir’s Sensor Finder now suggests sensors with Pulsed Power mode. When the parameters of the search correspond to the pulsed power measurement capabilities of the sensor, it will suggest the sensor and emphasize that it is only for pulsed power mode. Alternatively, if the parameters correspond to the CW specifications of the sensor, the sensor will appear as a CW sensor without any elaboration of Pulsed Power mode.

For example, for the query below, a sensor for a high power laser is needed. In CW mode the the L40(150)ALP2- 50 cannot work up to such high powers; however, in Pulsed Power mode it can. The L40(150)A-LP2-50 will appear at the bottom of the search results with the description "Up to 10kW for short exposures" and note 8 elaborates on Pulsed Power mode:

When the user clicks on the link to the sensor, a popup will appear on the product page to ensure that the user knows that it is not a CW measurement. See below for the popup:

In the example below, a sensor for a low power laser is needed. In this case, the sensor will appear in the search according to its CW parameters. Note 8 will not come up and if the user enters the product page, the popup about power from pulse will not appear.