Abstract
Adaptive optics, although originally developed for correcting aberrations in astronomical telescopes, also offer the capability to rapidly alter the intensity profile of a laser beam. Such a flexible beam shaping tool is highly attractive for many laser-based manufacturing techniques, allowing dynamic changes of the intensity profile in and around focus, both in-process and to switch between optimised beam shapes for different processes using the same laser. Here we focus on the application of a three different types of adaptive optic to nanosecond pulsed laser machining applications. Focal beam shaping results using (i) a piezoelectric deformable mirror; (ii) a bimorph mirror and (iii) a liquid crystal spatial light modulator are presented and comparisons made. Initial results obtained by applying these adaptive optics to laser micromachining applications using a nanosecond pulsed laser are shown.
| Original language | English |
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| Title of host publication | 4th Pacific International Conference on Applications of Lasers and Optics, PICALO 2010 |
| Publication status | Published - 2010 |
| Event | 4th Pacific International Conference on Applications of Lasers and Optics - Wuhan, China Duration: 23 Mar 2010 → 25 Mar 2010 |
Conference
| Conference | 4th Pacific International Conference on Applications of Lasers and Optics |
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| Abbreviated title | PICALO 2010 |
| Country/Territory | China |
| City | Wuhan |
| Period | 23/03/10 → 25/03/10 |