Laser beam analysis

In experiment P5.8.8.6 two different visible lasers plus collimating and expanding optics are used to demonstrate a variety of beam profile measurements with various beam shaping arrangements to show the possibilities of laser beam forming. The most important property of a laser beam is the intensity distribution in the beam.
The beam profiler is no CDD type, but a knife edge type: A precise knife edge is moved through the cross-section of the laser beam. As the blade moves across the beam, it is cut from reaching the photodetector. Using several knives with different angles on one rotating drum, the beam profile can be calculated from the time responses when the knives pass through the beam.