In-Situ, Real-Time Monitoring of High-Power Lasers

A smaller, faster and more sensitive laser power meter in the form of a folding mirror uses a capacitor-based force transducer and merges optical elements, namely a high reflectivity mirror, and sensing elements into a compact cube package. The four-centimeter-on-a-side cubes can be conveniently embedded into laser optical systems or laser-welding systems for point-of-use, realtime laser power measurement and calibration.