ANNOTATION
The laser maintenance course will cover the most important aspects of laser equipment operation, including cleaning optical components, aligning the laser beam, and measuring laser output parameters.
In the first part of the course, we will discuss the components that make up a laser, identifying which optical parts can be cleaned and which cannot. We will also review optical materials and recommend appropriate methods and chemicals for cleaning. A hands-on demonstration will show how to inspect cleaned surfaces, and participants will have the opportunity to practice cleaning techniques. We will briefly touch on the cleaning of optical gratings and fibers, with the option to explore these topics further based on participant interest. Additionally, we will explain the concept of a “cleanroom” and its relevance to laser optics.
The laser beam alignment section of the course focuses on working with general laser beams using basic optical and optomechanical elements. We will demonstrate how to align a visible laser beam to a specific direction determined by reference points, adjust it to a specific height, and collimate the beam. We will build an optical telescope and explain its functions within a laser system. These same tasks will also be performed using an invisible laser beam. We will demonstrate how to use various imaging tools and ensure safe handling of an invisible beam.
COURSE DETAIL
The one-day laser maintenance course introduces participants to the most essential skills for operating laser equipment:
- measurement of laser output parameters,
- cleaning of laser optical components,
- laser beam alignment.
Participants will have the opportunity to discuss practical solutions from their operations and bring their own optics for cleaning.
At course completion students will:
- Know the essential parts of a laser.
- Know the meaning of standard laser operating parameters.
- Know how to measure the basic parameters of a laser beam.
- Know how to measure the diameter and collimation of a laser beam.
- Know how to measure the power, pulse energy and spectrum of laser radiation.
- Know optical materials and appropriate cleaning methods.
- Know which optical components can be cleaned and which cannot.
- Know how to inspect cleaned surfaces.
- Understand the issues involved in cleaning optical gratings and fibres.
- Understand laser beam alignment.
- Work safely with the laser beam.
- Know how to align a visible laser beam to a reference point.
- Know how to align an infrared (invisible) laser beam to a reference point.
- Know how to collimate a visible laser beam.
- Know how to collimate an invisible laser beam.
- Understand the function of an optical telescope in a laser system.
- Build/set up an optical telescope.
- Know how to work with various imaging aids.
Prerequisites
Manual skills
COURSE OUTLINE
Part 1 | Measurement of laser output parameters
- Basic parts of the laser system.
- Meaning of the basic commonly used laser beam parameters ( beam spot size, collimation, power, pulse energy, pulse repetition rate, wavelength, Beam Parameter Product (BPP), M2, Strehl ratio, near and far field, pointing error).
- Measurement of laser beam diameter and collimation.
- Measurement of power, pulse energy and spectrum of laser radiation.
Part 2 | Cleaning of laser optical components
- Optical laser components.
- Overview of optical materials.
- Suitable cleaning methods for optical components.
- Methods for checking surface cleaning.
- Why clean in a “cleanroom”.
- Issues in cleaning optical gratings and fibres.
Part 3 | Laser beam alignment
- Basic rules for working safely with the laser beam.
- Optomechanical elements of laser systems.
- Practical adjustment of the visible laser beam to a reference point.
- Practical collimation of the visible laser beam
- Building an optical telescope in a visible laser beam
- Explanation of the function of an optical telescope in a laser system
- Practical alignment of an invisible laser beam to a reference point
- Practical collimation of an invisible laser beam
- Building an optical telescope in an invisible laser beam
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