Abstract

The complexity of laser material processing can be greatly reduced using computer-generated phase reflection holographic scanners. These scanners direct and focus the beam of a carbon dioxide laser into a spot on the workpiece and then translate this spot over some general 2-D pattern as the scanner undergoes a simple 1-D motion. Procedures for constructing these scanners are presented, and the first-order aberrations introduced by them are analyzed. The primary aberrations cause the diffracted beam to focus to an astigmatic spot on the work surface. The severity of the astigmatism is proportional to the scan rate, scan angle, and f/number. A technique is presented in which the design of the scanner is adjusted so that the astigmatic image is aligned with the scan direction. The resolution perpendicular to the scan direction is the same as that of a scanner without aberrations of the same f/number. Materials processed using these scanners are presented to show their capabilities for carbon dioxide laser material processing. Power densities on the order of 10⁶/cm² can be readily obtained using the proposed technique.

© 1978 Optical Society of America

Design considerations of 2-D holographic scanners

C. S. Ih
Appl. Opt. 17(5) 748-754 (1978)

Reflection volume holographic scanners with field-curvature corrections

Yukihiro Ishii
Appl. Opt. 22(22) 3491-3499 (1983)

Computer-generated microcooled reflection holograms in silicon for material processing with a CO₂ laser

Ch. Haupt, M. Pahlke, R. Krupka, and H. J. Tiziani
Appl. Opt. 36(19) 4411-4418 (1997)

Laser beam scanning using computer-generated holograms

Olof Bryngdahl and Wai-Hon Lee
Appl. Opt. 15(1) 183-194 (1976)

Computer-produced holograms for scanners utilizing an auxiliary reflector

C. S. Ih, N. Kong, and T. Giriappa
Appl. Opt. 17(10) 1582-1586 (1978)