Characterizing an optical element

Abstract

A method and apparatus for characterizing an optical element. The optical element is part of a laser and is mounted on a translation stage to scan the optical element transverse to an intracavity laser beam. A performance characteristic of the laser is recorded as a function of position of the optical element.

1 . An optical characterization apparatus comprising:
 a laser configured to generate a laser beam;   a positioning mount arranged to hold and move an optical element relative to an axis of the laser beam;   an optical detection system that receives and detects at least one property of the laser beam and characterizes the optical element therefrom; and   a controller, coupled to the optical detection system and positioning mount, that controls   movement of the optical element by the positioning mount based on the detected at least one property of the laser beam.   
     
     
         2 . A method of characterizing an optical element, the method comprising:
 determining a performance characteristic of a laser beam as a function of a relative position of the optical element; and   controlling movement relative to the laser beam, and deducing a characterization, of the optical element based on the determination.