Case Study: Achromatic Laser Beam Expander

Laser beam expanders are optical devices that modify laser beams by increasing their diameter or reducing their divergence angle. These devices, which have their origins in telescopic technology, typically fall into two categories: Galilean and Keplerian. Each category offers unique benefits and drawbacks. To meet various application needs, these basic structures are adapted into different types of beam expanders, including zoom and achromatic variants. This case study examines the design and implementation of an achromatic beam expander. 

Design Layout for Beam Expansion

• Target Wavelengths: 1064nm and 532nm
• Magnification: 5X for 1064nm, 5.1X for 532nm
• Input Beam Diameter: 10mm
• Output Beam Diameter: 50mm

The beam expander in this study is configured to handle an incoming beam with a 10mm diameter, which it magnifies to a 50mm diameter, achieving a 5X magnification. This setup is optimized for handling both 1064nm and 532nm wavelengths, allowing it to expand beams of different wavelengths simultaneously. 

To read the entire case study, visit Shanghai Optics website.