Measuring High Power Lasers With Low Power Detectors: A Cost Effective Solution

THE CASE

In industrial fiber laser applications like welding and soldering, it is rarely useful to measure the power of a laser beam before the end of the line since problems can occur after the point of measurement, at almost any point along the path that the light follows before it reaches the processed material.

It is therefore mandatory to use a non-intrusive method of measuring the laser output right at the final delivery optic.

THE ISSUE

Usually, for the measurements of high laser powers (kilowatts), we recommend a product from our HP series of detectors, which is the most complete high power product line on the
market. It can measure up to 25 kW and even more upon request.

However, it requires water cooling to operate and it is a relatively expensive solution. In the past few years, we were frequently questioned by some customers of the industrial market about the possibility of having a solution that would be more economical and that would require a somewhat less complicated installation.