Class 5 Photonics - Ultrafast, high-power laser technology (2024)

FAQs

What is a class 5 laser? ›

Class 5 Photonics offers ultrafast, high power laser systems and EUV sources for demanding applications from bio-imaging to ultrafast science and attosecond science.

OPA and OPCPA are techniques used for generating ultrafast femtosecond laser pulses. OPA utilizes a nonlinear crystal to produce tunable wavelengths and high energy, while OPCPA combines OPA with chirped pulse amplification for increased peak power.

Basic Principle

A laser oscillator usually comprises an optical resonator (laser resonator, laser cavity) in which light can circulate (e.g. between two mirrors), and within this resonator a gain medium (e.g. a laser crystal), which serves to amplify the light.

Are Class 4 lasers illegal? A. Therapeutic Class 4 lasers are NOT illegal. However, there have been some Class 4 laser pointers which have been sold illegally, can cause severe eye damage and are not permitted for sale in the US.

Class 4 is the highest class in terms of laser hazards. If you're within the hazard zone, you're exposed to severe eye and skin injuries. In addition, combustible materials shouldn't be in the laser's surroundings to avoid fire hazards. Diffuse reflections of class 4 lasers are also hazardous.

What is the difference between an OPO and OPA? In an Optical Parametric Oscillator, one of the beams reverberates in the cavity, which amplifies the conversion process and enables the delivery of higher intensity tunable light. In an Optical Parametric Amplifier (OPA) there is no reverberation.

The laser beam is highly coherent, which means that the electromagnetic waves are in the same phase with each other and propagate in the same direction. You can get a laser beam of high intensity and directivity by superposition of electromagnetic waves that are in phase.

1. A basic laser, like this red ruby laser, consists of a rod made of ruby crystals with a mirror on each end, and a flash tube. 2. A burst of light from the flash tube adds energy inside the rod, exciting the ruby atoms and producing light particles called photons.

The voltage appears across the laser diode as a result of the current flowing through it. This voltage is dependent on its wavelength. Typically, the voltage that appears with red and infrared wavelength diodes is between 1.5V and 3V but for green, blue, and ultraviolet the voltage is often above 5V.

A Class 4 laser beam can cause materials to smolder or burn, especially at close range. Keep the beam moving to avoid burning materials at close range. Dark materials which absorb heat, and lightweight materials such as paper and fabric, are most easily burned by visible laser beams.

What class of laser is safest? ›

Class 1. A Class 1 laser is safe under all conditions of normal use. This means the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) cannot be exceeded when viewing a laser with the naked eye or with the aid of typical magnifying optics (e.g. telescope or microscope).

as mentioned, Class 3B lasers deliver up to 500 mW per cm2, while everything above 500 mW is considered Class 4. Lasers in Class 4 are meant for burning, cutting, or evaporative purposes – in the medical field, this usually means surgery, removal of tissue, eye corrections etc.

Class 3R. For class 3R lasers, the laser radiation in the visible wavelength range is from 380nm to 780nm at a maximum of 5mW.