Help me pick a laser power meter

[tocket]

I need an optical power meter for my research (solar cells), which has suddenly started to involve lasers (horrible, I know ). However, I will need to make measurements on more than just lasers. Also LEDs, sulfur, xenon and other incoherent light sources are used here.

My criteria are like this:

• Flat response curve between 300 and ~2500 nm
• 8x4 mm rectangle should fit on the detector area
• Normal intensity of the light used is 100 mW/cm², but it should be able to measure down to at least 10 mW and up to 2W
• Must work with fairly divergent light
• Ability to measure pulse energy of LEDs is a plus

So far the hottest candidate is an Ophir head, the 3A-P-FS: http://www.ophiropt.com/laser/pdf/in...p?item=3A-P-FS

It's quite expensive though, at nearly 1700 USD (at least that's the price the Swedish distributor gave me, maybe he's gouging me). Then the Nova II meter for it costs another $1900.

Any other suggestions are welcome. I have very limited experience with laser power meters.

[mccarrot]

I have chosen for the Coherent PM3 sensor, it got a measuring range between 50uW and 3Wm wit a 50uW resulotion. With this thermal sensor you can even do simplified MPE measurements.

Laserben still got a Coherent FieldmaxII TOP for sale.

[lasersbee]

Too bad you need up to 2 Watts...
But it is a Thermal Power Meter...

If 1 Watt wold have been enough The LaserBee I could
have covered your needs for under $500.00 USD..
It measures from 5mW to 1050mW...


Jerry

[tocket]

Thanks for your replies. I feel I should clarify one thing though. This is for a research project at a university. I'm not the one paying for the equipment, but if I pick the wrong stuff or the measurements are inaccurate I'll certainly get the blame. That's why I prefer new and calibrated equipment.

A Coherent PM3 seems like an alternative to the Ophir sensor. Does anyone know what they cost new?

[lasersbee]

Contact Coherent... Google is your friend...

Jerry

[mccarrot]

Yes,

- p/n 1098336 PM3 power sensor €850,=
- p/n 1097901 PM10 power sensor €790,=

they come with a calibration report.

If you need a DIY meter like the laserbee only better and up to 3W I have one for sale.

[Laser Ben]

If you need to measure LEDs, the only way to do it correctly is to use an integrating sphere. You probably could fit a high sensitivity thermal sensor to the sphere.

[lasersbee]

If you need a DIY meter like the laserbee only better and up to 3W I have one for sale.

The only thing that is "better" is that the Die4Thing goes to 3Watts...
BTW how long have you had it... and when was the last time it was calibrated...
and does yours have Data Logging and Graphing Software

Even though Robin had built a really nice LPM... It's too bad there is no more
service or parts for the Die4thing LPM...


Jerry

[mccarrot]

The only thing that is "better" is that the Die4Thing goes to 3Watts...
BTW how long have you had it... and when was the last time it was calibrated...
and does yours have Data Logging and Graphing Software


Jerry

Die4thing

I'ts upto 3W
Nice 2 x 16 char Blue LCD display
I have had it for 12 months
It's been calibrated 7th June 2009 at a LEM
It can also control a TEC.
It got a feature to give quick readings instead of 3 seconds wait for the sensor to warm up.
and yes, it got serial data logging output

[tocket]

If you need to measure LEDs, the only way to do it correctly is to use an integrating sphere. You probably could fit a high sensitivity thermal sensor to the sphere.

I never quite understood the fuzz about integrating spheres. What are they good for and how do you use them? I'm not interested in the total output of the light source btw. It is the irradiance of a sample that I need to measure.

The Ophir sensor is nice in that the distance between the window and sensor is less than 7 mm.