Coherent has enhanced its laser power measurement product series, PowerMax-USB/RS by a value addition, of more potent thermopile sensors.
When premiered in December 2009, PowerMax was the only product to couple miniaturized laser power meter electronics in a sensor head, within a RS232 cable connector or a USB 2.0, along with optical and thermopile sensors, that can measure laser power to a range of tens of watts. The new PowerMax consists of thermopile sensors, cooled by water, and capable of laser power measurements, ranging from 1W to 1kW, over a spectral range of 250 nm to 10.6 µm. This is obtainable in two forms, a post mounted configuration applicable in laboratories, and another compact device to be integrated in OEM applications.
PowerMax-USB/RS
The PowerMax product line has also added another PM series, consisting of single element thermopile sensors that are connective air-cooled, with a power measuring range between 10mW to 30 mW, and 190 nm to 11µm wavelengths. These sensors can suffer high average powers and have a low noise floor when compared to the former LM series sensors, making them easy to incorporate in rigid spaces in challenging laser based systems.
The virtual instrument interface is the same for all PowerMax USB/RS products namely, Coherent’s PowerMax PC application software, which allows operators to log in data, note laser power readings, and compute measurement statistics. The other advantages of PowerMax sensors are reduced calibration costs and low overall system price. The users could also create their own code and program using commands from the host interface to regulate power meter operations.