Conditioning device for reducing positional sensitivity of laser beam on photodetector and method of using the same
In a system, a conditioning device includes a diffuser, a lens configured to focus a beam of laser energy onto the diffuser and an iris configured to transmit at least a portion of the beam of laser energy transmitted by the diffuser.
1 . A system, comprising:
a conditioning device including:
a diffuser;
a lens configured to focus a beam of laser energy onto the diffuser; and
an iris configured to transmit at least a portion of the beam of laser energy transmitted by the diffuser.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the conditioning device further includes a waveplate arranged between the diffuser and the lens.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the waveplate is a quarter waveplate.
4 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a photodetector having an optical input arranged to receive the beam of laser energy output from the conditioning device.
5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a deflector operative to deflect the beam of laser energy and arranged optically upstream of the conditioning device.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser is formed of non-porous PTFE.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser is formed of porous PTFE.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser is not formed of porous PTFE, alumina, fused silica, white glass, polypropylene or cellulose triacetate (TAC).
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser is formed of a material that exhibits no fluorescence in presence of laser energy having a wavelength in the ultra-violet (UV) range of the electromagnetic spectrum.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the conditioning device does not include a color filter.
11 . A method, comprising:
focusing a beam of laser energy having a wavelength in the ultra-violet (UV) range of the electromagnetic spectrum;
diffusing the focused beam of laser energy; and
propagating at least a portion of the diffused beam of laser energy through an aperture and onto a photodetector.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising propagating the focused beam of laser energy through a waveplate before diffusing the focused beam of laser energy.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the waveplate is a quarter waveplate.
14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising deflecting the beam of laser energy, wherein focusing the beam of laser energy includes focusing the deflected beam of laser energy.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein diffusing the beam of laser energy includes diffusing the beam of laser energy using a diffuser formed of non-porous PTFE.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein diffusing the beam of laser energy includes diffusing the beam of laser energy using a diffuser formed of porous PTFE.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein diffusing the beam of laser energy includes diffusing the beam of laser energy using a diffuser that is not formed of porous PTFE, alumina, fused silica, white glass, polypropylene or cellulose triacetate (TAC).
18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein diffusing the beam of laser energy includes diffusing the beam of laser energy using a diffuser formed of a material that exhibits no fluorescence in presence of laser energy having a wavelength in the UV range of the electromagnetic spectrum.