Optics for fiber lasers offer extremely low absorption

Ophir Optics offers Fiberlens™, a series of collimating lenses, focusing lenses, and protective windows for use with high-power, 1-micron fiber laser systems. They are suitable for all applications from 1,030 to 1,080 nm, including fiber lasers, discklasers, and YAG lasers.

The optics feature extremely low-absorption fused silica substrates with low-absorption, antireflective coatings on the lenses and windows that protect against laser damage. Absorption is less than 50 PPM to help prevent thermal lensing and focus shift, which can degrade cutting quality and speed. Focal length tolerance is +/-0.5 percent, and the laser damage threshold is greater than 10 J.

The absorption rate of the lenses and windows is measured using a Primes optical quality monitor (OQM). The monitor, which measures the temperature rise of the optics when exposed to 1-micron laser radiation, can measure extremely low absorption levels accurately.