Ophir Photonics Group, North Logan, UT, has updated its M2-200S camera-based beam propagation analyzer that automatically measures laser beam quality. The new version adds support for 64-bit processing (Windows 7), addressing more physical memory, minimizing the time required to swap processes, and speeding up the measurement cycle to less than two minutes.
The M2-200S compact, portable system features a CCD camera that works with pulsed or CW lasers, 266-1300 nm, to automatically measure M2, beam waist location and width, divergence, astigmatism, asymmetry ratio, and the Rayleigh range for each axis. Input beam sizes can range from 0.5mm - 10mm. Manual mode is available for beams that are too large or too small, or for wavelengths outside the standard optical train. The system uses a fixed position lens and moving detector to enable measurement of M2 values even when the laser beam is diverging or converging. (A manual mode is available for beams that are too large or too small or at wavelengths outside the standard optical train.)
The system's software, based on Spiricon's patented UltraCal calibration method and auto aperturing, excludes noise beyond the wings of the laser beam and assures high accuracy measurements. It displays a 2D or 3D beam profile of the currently measured point in the beam propagation curve. After each run, the beam profile of any individual measured point can be observed. Outlying or anomalous points can be automatically or manually excluded from the curve fit calculations for more accurate results.
Here's the M2-200S data sheet, including two videos showing how it works.