A System for Measuring the Characteristics of High Peak Power Detectors of Pulsed CO2 Radiation

摘要

A system is described for determining the responsivity of detectors for high peak power CO2 laser pulses. The insertion loss of feed-through detectors can also be measured. The basic approach involves a measurement of the excitation energy and detector output waveform, and is applicable only for pulse amplitudes where the detector output voltage is a linear function of the optical power. However, a method is described for extending measurements to power levels where the responsivity becomes nonlinear. The time response of the detectors is checked using short duration (10 ns) rectangular pulses to simulate an impulse. A method for measuring beam diameter is also detailed. An error analysis of the system is given.