Beam-path alignment system for high-power laser setups

Abstract

This paper presents the automated system for minimizing the deviation of the path of passage and the divergence of a secondary radiation source with similar parameters of the main beam of a high-power Ti:Sa laser using mirrors in kinematic mounts on the motorized stages. As an alignment laser, the diode laser with a fiber output was used with radiation characteristics coinciding with the parameters of the main beam (wavelength, beam diameter). The successive approximation algorithm was used to minimize the beam deflection. The deviations of the main alignment parameters from 'live' to 'pilot' beam are following: positioning accuracy (X axis -0.96 μm, Y axis -0.96 μm), pointing accuracy (X axis -8.78 μm, Y axis -6.14 μm), beam size matching (X axis -0.96 μm, Y axis -0.96 μm), wavefront curvature (P-V = -0.072 μm).