Technical Center: Laser Glossary of Terms

Beam

A collection of rays that may be parallel, convergent, or divergent.

Beam Bender

A hardware assembly containing an optical device, such as a mirror, capable of changing the direction of a laser beam; used to repoint the beam, and in "folded," compact laser systems.

Beam Diameter

The distance between diametrically opposed points in the cross section of a circular beam where the intensity is reduced by a factor of 1/e (0.368) of the peak level (for safety standards). The value is normally chosen at 1/e2 (0.135) of the peak level for manufacturing specifications.

Beam Divergence

Angle of beam spread measured in radians or milliradians (1 milliradian = 3.4 minutes-of-arc or approximately 1 mil). For small angles where the cord is approximately equal to the arc, the beam divergence can be closely approximated by the ratio of the cord length (beam diameter) divided by the distance (range) from the laser aperture.

Beam Expander

An optical device that increases beam diameter while decreasing beam divergence (spread). In its simplest form consists of two lenses, the first to diverge the beam and the second to re-collimate it. Also called an upcollimator.

Beam Splitter

An optical device using controlled reflection to produce two beams from a single incident beam.

Blink Reflex

(See Aversion Response.)

Brewster Windows

The transmissive end (or both ends) of the laser tube, made of transparent optical material and set at Brewster's angle in gas lasers to achieve zero reflective loss for one axis of plane polarized light. They are nonstandard on industrial lasers, but some polarizing element must be used if a polarized output is desired.

Brightness

The visual sensation of the luminous intensity of a light source. The brightness of a laser beam is most closely associated with the radiometric concept of radiance.