Laser power detection using normalized linear slices to construct gaussian profiles

Abstract

A system and method are provided for determining total laser power with photodiode sensors used to measure irradiance from the beam strike of the laser to identify linear offset Gaussian slices. The Gaussian for the slices is then solved to obtain a Gaussian profile, wherein solving to obtain the Gaussian profile includes: measuring an angle of incidence of a central axis of the laser beam relative to a normal axis of a plane containing the photodiode sensors; measuring a positional offset of the plane of the photodiode sensors relative to a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the laser beam; creating a projection of the plane of the photodiode sensors onto the plane perpendicular to a propagation of the beam to provide centered linear slices; and constructing the Gaussian profile from the centered linear slices. The total laser power is then determined from the Gaussian profile.