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There are a wide range of laser beam delivery systems in use for various purposes; including
industrial and medical applications. Virtually all such beam delivery systems for practical
purposes employ optical systems comprised of mirrors and lenses to shape, focus and guide the
laser beam down to the material being processed. The goal of the laser beam delivery is to set
the optimum parameters and to "fold" the beam path to reduce the mechanical length of the
optical system, thereby allowing a physically compact system. In many cases, even a compact
system can incorporate upwards of six mirrors and a comparable number of lenses all needing
alignment so they are collinear. One of the major requirements for use of such systems in
industry is a method of safe alignment. The alignment process requires that the aligner
determine where the beam strikes each element. The aligner should also preferably be able to
determine the shape or pattern of the laser beam at that point and its relative power. These
alignments are further compounded in that the laser beams generated are not visible to the
unaided human eye. Such beams are also often of relatively high power levels, and are thereby a
significant hazard to the eyes of the aligner. Obvious an invisible beam makes it nearly
impossible to align laser system without some form of optical assistance. The predominant
method of visually aligning the laser beam delivery is the use of thermal paper, paper cards or
fluorescing card material. The use of paper products which have limited power handling
capability or coated plastics can produce significant debris and contaminants within the beam
line that ultimately damage the optics. The use of the cards can also create significant laser light
scatter jeopardizing the safety of the person aligning the system. This paper covers a new safety
mirror design for use with at various UV and Near IR wavelengths (193 nm to 1064 nm) within
laser beam delivery systems and how its use can provide benefits covering eye safety, precise
alignment and beam diagnostics.
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