Variable Attenuators for High Power Lasers

Diffractive attenuators control the power of laser radiation using diffraction gratings. Since phase diffraction gratings do not absorb light they can be used for high-power laser radiation (cw, pulsed). Variation of grating parameters along the substrate results in variable transmission at a given wavelength.
Diffractive attenuators can be designed for wavelength from deep UV till IR for laser powers up to 250W/cm² in CW and 1000mJ/cm² in 10ns pulses.

Principle of operation

Light beam passing through a diffractive grating is partially deflected into several diffractive orders, which get subsequently blocked by diaphragm. Thus the zero order beam (does not change the direction of propagation) is attenuated. The intensity of output radiation I_output depends on the grating design and wavelength of input beam. By changing the grating parameters one can control the power of output radiation¹. The transmission coefficient of such an attenuator is h = I_output/I_input..

Design of diffractive attenuator on the base of circular diffractive grating.

Key features

• High power attenuator: Diffractive attenuators can control high power laser radiation, either pulsed or continuous (cw) laser beams due to non-absorbing phase gratings.
• Flexible design of transmission function: The dependence h(j) of the attenuator transmission on rotation angle j can be designed by computer according to the customer's requirements.
• Low cost mass-fabrication: Laser lithographic methods allow one to produce attenuators by binary optics technology with significant price decrease for larger quantities.

Applications

• Beam-modulators for high power lasers (Nd:YAG-, Argon-, Excimer-...) for material processing (e.g. marking, ), scanner systems, etc.
• Beam-splitters with adjustable splitting coefficient and attenuation.

Attenuator design

Specifications

Diffractive attenuator with mount

Laser Attenuators   Diffractive attenuators control the power of laser radiation using diffraction gratings. Since phase diffraction gratings do not absorb light they can be used for high-power laser radiation (CW, pulsed). Variation of grating parameters along the substrate results in variable transmission at a given wavelength. Diffractive Variable Attenuators are based on binary optics technology. Attenuator manufacturing starts from computer design of two-dimensional diffractive gratings using proprietary Diffraction Optics Design Software. Master Grating mask is created using high-resolution laser photo plotters. Final manufacturing process is accomplished using lithographic methods including plasma etching. Diffractive attenuators are designed for wavelength from deep UV till IR. Damage threshold for these high power attenuators is more than 250W/cm2 in CW and 1000 mJ/cm2 in 10ns pulses. Lead time 1-2 weeks

Model   Product Name+   Price   Buy Now   DVA-532   Diffractive Variable Attenuator, 532 nm   $3,200.00     DVA-800   Diffractive Variable Attenuator, 800 nm   $3,200.00     DVA-1064   Diffractive Variable Attenuator, 1064 nm   $3,200.00    Displaying 1 to 3 (of 3 products) Result Pages:  1

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