No more losing of energy ! Up to 50% saved !

An idea of piShaper operation is illustrated at the left picture. Gaussian intensity distribution of TEMoo laser beam is converted to a flat-top distribution (similar to a Greek letter pi ) that stays invariable over a long distance.
piShaper relates to so called refractive field mapping systems, where the intensity profile is transformed in a control manner.
Sure the technology of energy conversion make it possible to create almost arbitrary intensity distribution of output beam providing adaptation to a particular application. However, very often just flat-top distribution is required, that is why as a standard the piShaper provides flattop.

A main benefit from using piShaper is saving of laser energy that is very important in many laser applications, especially in material processing. The problem is that Gauss intensity distribution isn't an optimum one in many cases. For example, while materials treating a great part of energy concentrated far from a middle of TEMoo laser beam is not used to get a proper treating effect, most often it is considered as a loss of energy. From this point of view evaluation of the efficiency of using laser energy has a great importance.

As a first approach it could be done with taking into account geometrical issues only, without effects accompanying laser treatment of materials like burning, etc. At a figure below one can see Gauss intensity distribution in a section of laser beam where Ih is a level of energy when an effect of material treatment happens. "The energy figure" of laser beam has three parts:

• E1 - an apex of Gauss is an excess of energy over the working level Ih,
• E2 - "tails" of Gauss that almost always are losses of energy, and
• E3 - effective "cylinder" of energy.
  

Results of calculations for "parts of energy" are presented at right figure.

      (Courtesy of EO Technics)

An illustration of the piShaper influence on the results of material processing with using the laser is presented at left picture. Here one can see a comparison of engraving of a depression in a material with pure TEMoo laser as well as with the same laser but with a piShaper after it.

Difference is evident - irregular shape of the depression with a ragged unwished hole in the middle in case of direct engraving with the TEMoo laser, good shaped round depression with a controlled depth when applying the piShaper.

This is only one example of positive effect of applying the piShaper, there is a plenty of laser applications, however, where this unique tool can improve their performance providing a higher level of stability and predictability of a technological process.