New laser power sensor using diamagnetic levitation

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Materials Science
• Optoelectronics

Background:

• Traditional laser power meters often rely on thermal or photon-electron interactions.
• These methods can have limitations in sensitivity, response time, or complexity.
• An alternative, non-contact measurement technique is desirable for certain applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate a novel laser power sensing device utilizing a levitated pyrolytic carbon plate.
• To evaluate the photo-response characteristics of this device for laser power measurement.
• To determine its potential as an alternative to existing power sensing technologies.

Main Methods:

• A preliminary study was conducted using a pyrolytic carbon plate levitated above a magnet array.
• The device's levitation height was measured as a function of incident laser power.
• Experiments covered a laser power range from 20 mW to 1 W, analyzing linearity, sensitivity, and reproducibility.

Main Results:

• The levitation height of the pyrolytic carbon plate demonstrated a linear, sensitive, and reproducible photo-response to laser irradiation.
• The change in elevation height over irradiance time was found to be a suitable parameter for correlating with laser power.
• Key factors influencing measurement accuracy were identified and discussed.

Conclusions:

• The levitated pyrolytic carbon device shows significant potential as a laser power sensor.
• Its performance characteristics suggest it could be a viable alternative to conventional thermal or photon-electron based power meters.
• The device is suitable for applications in metrology, industry, and emerging technologies requiring precise laser power measurements.