Thermo-Optical (TOP) analysis of transmissive elements for laser systems

Alexander Gatej; Annika Richmann; Oliver Pütsch; Peter Loosen

doi:10.1117/12.929213

17 October 2012 Thermo-Optical (TOP) analysis of transmissive elements for laser systems

Alexander Gatej, Annika Richmann, Oliver Pütsch, Peter Loosen

Proceedings Volume 8490, Laser Beam Shaping XIII; 84900C (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.929213
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2012, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Increasing laser beam qualities make thermal lensing again a hot topic and demand for a thermo-optical simulation for improving classical ray tracing and enabling optimization possibilities for thermally aberrated optical systems. This paper summarizes the approach for coupling FEM and ray tracing using a weighted least squares approximation algorithm and demonstrates the abilities of the coupled simulation in the case of a CO2 laser system for polishing of glass and plastics. It can be demonstrated that the algorithm can be used for the analysis of higher order aberrations, since the application contains a Gaussian to top-hat conversion lens group which suffers from thermal gradients. Finally, the benefits and further developments of analyzing thermal gradients in optical simulation are being discussed.

Citation Download Citation

Alexander Gatej, Annika Richmann, Oliver Pütsch, and Peter Loosen "Thermo-Optical (TOP) analysis of transmissive elements for laser systems", Proc. SPIE 8490, Laser Beam Shaping XIII, 84900C (17 October 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.929213

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