Paradigm Shift, My A$$!
The second law of thermodynamics has a optical corollary, Etendue.
Etendue says, you cant win, you cant loose, you cant even play the game.
Translation, no output beam passing through passive optics can be brighter then its source, more so if you try to shrink the diameter while trying to make the beam parallel.
Think irradiance,not burning things.
Fine folks, all of you who are going to sell me your 473s so damn fast and so cheap, just go ahead. You really need to think about that before you do.
Oh, and enjoy the ride, because having got a glimpse of what Nichia is going to offer next, these small chips are not going to be here long, and the next thing for laser video has a beam you could not get into 600 micron fiber...
Yes, I bought two, but I have access to a combining technique that is too expensive for the average hobbyist. I'm going to throw away 1/3 to 1/2 of the power to even get close to a decent beam.
Slow down folks, these Nichia things are not quite what many of you think they are...
Just a public service announcement from the craggy ole Ghost of Laser Xmas Past....
Who once upon a time, some years ago, bought a first generation high power red, costing two weeks pay.... The spex are not all that different...
Prove me wrong..
Steve
Last edited by mixedgas; 06-04-2010 at 16:52.
Qui habet Christos, habet Vitam!
I should have rented the space under my name for advertising.
When I still could have...