Computer modelling to support laser safety analysis of pulse trains with varying peak power and pulse duration

Abstract

Neither the international laser safety standard IEC 60825-1 Edition 3.0 nor the standard ANSI Z136.1-2014 provide specific rules on how to apply the pulse reduction factor C5 (resp. CP) to irregular pulse trains, featuring both varying peak power as well as varying pulse duration. Without specific guidance, the analysis has to be performed based on restrictive approaches, such as counting all pulses and giving them the same weight, even the ones with smaller peak power and lower energy. Preliminary work, presented at the ILSC 2017, focused on pulse trains with varying peak power. The present study provides guidance on how to analyze irregular pulse patterns - both in terms of peak power and pulse duration - in a less restrictive way.Neither the international laser safety standard IEC 60825-1 Edition 3.0 nor the standard ANSI Z136.1-2014 provide specific rules on how to apply the pulse reduction factor C5 (resp. CP) to irregular pulse trains, featuring both varying peak power as well as varying pulse duration. Without specific guidance, the analysis has to be performed based on restrictive approaches, such as counting all pulses and giving them the same weight, even the ones with smaller peak power and lower energy. Preliminary work, presented at the ILSC 2017, focused on pulse trains with varying peak power. The present study provides guidance on how to analyze irregular pulse patterns - both in terms of peak power and pulse duration - in a less restrictive way.