Optical fiber calorimeter for measuring CO(2) laser power

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Laser Technology
• Metrology

Background:

• Accurate measurement of carbon dioxide (CO2) laser power is crucial for various industrial and scientific applications.
• Existing power measurement techniques may have limitations in sensitivity, linearity, or response time.
• Optical fiber interferometry presents a promising avenue for developing novel sensing modalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and characterize a new method for measuring CO2 laser power using an optical fiber interferometer.
• To evaluate the linearity and sensitivity of the proposed interferometer system.
• To determine the response time characteristics of the CO2 laser power measurement method.

Main Methods:

• Development of an optical fiber interferometer configured as a calorimeter.
• Irradiation of the interferometer with a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser at varying power levels.
• Measurement of the induced phase changes within the optical fiber in response to laser power.
• Experimental determination of the system's sensitivity and response time.

Main Results:

• The optical fiber interferometer successfully measured CO2 laser power.
• A linear relationship was observed between the phase change and the irradiated CO2 laser power.
• The experimental sensitivity of the system was determined to be 0.33 pirad/mW.
• The response time of the measurement was found to be largely independent of the CO2 laser power.

Conclusions:

• The developed optical fiber interferometer serves as an effective calorimeter for CO2 laser power measurement.
• The linearity and high sensitivity of this method make it suitable for precise laser power monitoring.
• The power-independent response time ensures consistent and reliable measurements across different laser power levels.