Synrad Firestar V Series User Manual

technical reference
55
SYNRAD OEM v40 Operator’s Manual Version 4
Technical overview
The Technical overview section includes subsections:
■ Laser tube
■ Optical resonator
■ RF power supply
■ Optical setup
Laser tube
Firestar
®
v-Series lasers were developed using new technology patented by SYNRAD. This patented “v”
technology, based on a combination of free-space and waveguide resonator designs, enables SYNRAD
to economically produce a symmetrical laser beam from a small but powerful laser capable of operating
for many years with virtually no maintenance. Firestar’s unique extruded aluminum envelope oers ex-
cellent heat transfer, long gas life, and low operating costs in contrast to other laser tube technologies.
Besides being the vessel that maintains the lasing environment, the aluminum tube is also the structural
platform that integrates the laser’s optical, electrical, and cooling components.
Optical resonator
The optical resonator, in conjunction with the electrodes and the gas mixture, generates the laser beam.
Firestar v40 optical resonators are comprised of four optical elements: a rear mirror, two turning mirrors,
and an output window. These optical elements are fastened to the tube’s exterior and are exposed to its
interior through holes in the end caps. O-rings sandwiched between optical elements and each end cap
form a gas seal and provide a exible cushion that allows the slight movement necessary for alignment. All
optical elements are aligned and locked into place by factory technicians before the laser is shipped.
Caution
possible
equipment
damage
Because of their smaller beam diameter, Firestar lasers have signi-
cantly higher power densities than previous SYNRAD lasers. This
means that even a small amount of contamination on the laser’s out-
put window (or on any optic in the beam path) can absorb enough
energy to damage the optic. Inspect the output window and other
beam delivery optics periodically for signs of contaminants and care-
fully clean as required. In dirty environments, purge laser optics using
ltered air or nitrogen to prevent vapor and debris from accumulating
on optical surfaces.
The output beam, roughly circular as it exits the resonator, transitions to Gaussian-like in mid and far
elds three meters and beyond. The internal structure and optics of the resonator combine to produce
a Gaussian-like mode quality of TEM
00
with an M
2
factor < 1.2. As shown in the following gure, beam
waist diameter is 2.5 mm at the output aperture and full angle divergence due to diraction is less than
7 milliradians (a 7 mrad full angle divergence means that beam diameter increases 7 mm over every one
meter distance traveled).

Synrad Firestar V Series Specifications

General

Brand	Synrad
Model	Firestar V Series
Category	Measuring Instruments
Language	English