Arctos Lasertechnik (Germany), Lightwave International (USA), and Coherent (USA) have constructed a record breaking full-color entertainment laser. The new laser system is based on OPS laser technology by Coherent and packs a whopping 66.2 Watts of full-color laser output. The beam profile is less than 3mm with less than 1mRad divergence, and packs an irradiance approaching 1000W/cm^2.
High powered OPS Lasers are following a steady power growth curve while retaining outstanding beam characteristics and continually offering new wavelengths for laser system integrators. This has allowed the developers of this system to create larger systems with an increasing density of light (irradiance) packed into the same beam. High power in a standard size beam allows the use of the same fast scanning systems that are used with standard beam sizes usually limited to smaller lasers. In many other high power approaches, the size of the beam increases as power increases. This reduces irradiance significantly and forces the use of larger scanner mirrors which in turn reduces maximum scan speed. This limited the traditional use of very high powered lasers to atmospheric effects or simple graphic projections.
This 66 Watt monster, using standard 6215 scanners, is capable of full-speed 60k graphics: the most powerful laser paintbrush available on the planet. Applications include massive outdoor and stadium events where the power of old flashlamp Yag systems is preferred, but the artistic expression of the designer demands more than monochrome pulsed green lasers. Massive projections of logos or images on skyscrapers, mountains, or well-behaved cloud surfaces will reach new levels of brightness and impact.
The new laser system will be on display this weekend, October 22-24 at LDI 2010 in Las Vegas, NV. In addition to this system, the developers will also showcase the unique new 607nm Orange OPS laser, a 12W 445nm OEM diode source with outstanding beam characteristics, a 5W 640nm OEM diode source with < .65 mRad divergence, another 300 Watts of full-color diode/ops laser systems, and –yes- sharks with friggin’ laser beams.
Lightwave International and Arctos are Coherent Premium Certified Integrators for OPS laser systems in the USA and Germany respectively.
For those of you wondering, this is an RGBBY. I'll post specific wavelengths in a bit.
More pictures and video coming soon.
If you were at LDI- this was the monster on top of the Lightwave booth
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