Eye safe laser transmitter
Abstract
This abstract describes an apparatus for converting a high intensity spatially coherent laser beam into a source of spatially incoherent radiation that retains the temporal, amplitude and frequency characteristics, and also the polarization, of the spatially coherent laser beam. A laser is oriented so that its coherent output beam falls on a transmissive optical lens which images the coherent beam onto the surface of a ground glass plate that has been etched with hydrofluoric acid to form a spatial diffuser. The radiation that emerges from the diffuser has been converted into spatially incoherent radiation that retains some important characteristics of the coherent beam, namely polarization and temporal coherence. The diffuser outputs a diverging beam of substantially incoherent radiation to a collimator that provides a collimated output beam that can be used in laser communicators, laser rangefinders and other laser field devices in an eyesafe mode.
- Publication:
-
Air Force Interim Report
- Pub Date:
- June 1984
- Bibcode:
- 1984aifo.reptU....W
- Keywords:
-
- Coherent Radiation;
- Collimators;
- Eye (Anatomy);
- High Power Lasers;
- Intensity;
- Laser Damage;
- Transmitters;
- Glass;
- Laser Outputs;
- Patents;
- Retina;
- Spatial Distribution;
- Instrumentation and Photography