Light sheet optics
High Power light sheet series
Applications
• High energy laser-sheets
• Thin light-sheets for planar Particle Image
Velocimetry
• Thick light-sheets for stereoscopic Particle Image
Velocimetry
• Flow visualization
• Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence (PLIF)
Introduction
The High Power light sheet series produces a light sheet
with adjustable thickness for 532 nm and 527 nm lasers.
The light sheet optic has a large aperture and handles
beam diameters of up to 12 mm from high-energy pulsed
laser beams up to 2x400 mJ. Such powerful lasers are
often required in the study of large areas in air flows.
Since many flows are three-dimensional, one
important parameter in PIV is the thickness of the
illuminating light sheet. In order to optimize the PIV results
the light-sheet thickness should be adjusted to be
approximately four times greater than the out-of-plane
displacement of the seeding particles.
The light-sheet thickness is also important in
calculating the available laser energy. Thus, to study large
flow areas requires a light sheet optic with a large
aperture and capable of handling high beam energies.
Adjusting light sheet thickness also provides control of the
measurement volume (light sheet thickness and light
sheet divergence angle) and the illumination energy
density, as well optimizing the number of valid vectors.
Features
• Easy adjustment of light sheet thickness
• Failsafe assembly of modules
• Laser beam conditioning
• Optics integrated in protective housing
• Modular design
Description
The High Power light-sheet series has a number of
modules.
The 81X80 base module is used to mount the light
sheet optic directly onto the laser head or to a light guide
arm. They also contain spacer rings and protective caps.
Different entrance modules are used to condition the
beams of different lasers, so they appear to have the
same characteristics to subsequent modules, and optical
parameters are easily predictable.
For full flexibility in light sheet thickness adjustment,
the 80X91 variable focus module allows the thickness of
the light sheet easily to be varied by turning its central
ring.
Adding or combining one or more of the 80X94,
80X95 or 80X96 angle modules in front of the variable
focus module creates light sheets with different
divergence angles.
The 80X89 90° mirror module can be used to turn the
light sheet direction by 90° with respect to the optical axes
of the laser.
High Power Nd:YAG light-sheet series Product Information

Light-sheet divergence angle

The divergence angle of the High Power light sheet
series is only dependent upon the combination of
angle modules because the entrance modules
condition the different laser beams in such a way that
they appear identical to the other optics modules.
This way the light sheet parameters become
independent of the incoming laser beam diameter and
divergence.
The light sheet angle is easily increased by combining
several of the angle modules as schematically shown
below.
Light-sheet thickness adjustment
Using the 80X91 variable focus module, the light
sheet thickness can be adjusted by focussing it at a
distance. For 2D-PIV set-ups, where relatively thin
light sheets are of interest, the focusing range is from
200 mm to 4000 mm (converging beam out of optics).
For stereoscopic PIV set-ups, with thicker light sheets,
the focusing range is up to infinity (diverging beam
out of optics).

Light-sheet dimensions:

Light-sheet divergence angle:

Base module combined with one or more angle modules
and/or variable focus module

Light-sheet thickness:

Entrance Module Basic and angle modules only:

– diverging laser beam

Base, angle and variable focus module:

– focused beam with variable focal distance

Base, angle and variable focus module for 2D-PIV:

– focused beam

Base, angle and variable focus module for

stereoscopic PIV:
– focused or diverging beam

Light sheet thickness without variable focus

module
When the light sheet optic is used without the variable This simple light sheet optics requires the use of
focus module, the light sheet thickness is determined 9080X0231 Entrance Module Basic in combination
by the laser beam’s input diameter and divergence with at least one Angle Module, for example
angle, as shown above. 9080X0941.
For high-power pulsed lasers, the divergence angle of
the laser beam is typically small and the light sheet
thickness will be close to the input laser beam
diameter in the measurement volume.
High Power Nd:YAG light-sheet series Product Information

Light-sheet thickness diagrams High power light sheet modules and possible
The two diagrams below show examples of light-sheet combinations
thickness and confocal length as a function of the
focusing distance from the light sheet optic with
different combinations of optics modules. The
diagram shows the use of four different entrance
modules. The input beam has a diameter of 6.5 mm
and the modal distribution of energy within the beam
is characterized by M2 = 28.

L S T hi c k ne s s a t v a r i o us E nt r a n c e M od ul e s

6, 0

5, 0 E M P 1, 7 N A

E M P 2, 2 N A
4, 0 E M P 2, 8 N A

E M P 3, 6 N A
3, 0
E M P 4, 6 N A
2, 0 E M P 5, 8 N A

1, 0
E M P 7, 4 ( ! ) Light sheet optic for mount on a laser head
E M P 9, 4

0, 0 E M P 12

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 E M P 16

W o r k i n g d i s t a n c e [ mm ]

Light sheet thickness vs working distance

LS Confocal Length at various Entrance Modules

3000
EM P1,7 NA

EM P2,2 NA
2500
EM P2,8 NA
LS Confocal Length [mm]

EM P3,6 NA
2000
EM P4,6 NA

EM P5,8 NA
1500
EM P7,4 (!)

EM P9,4
1000
EM P12

500 EM P16

0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500
Working distance [mm]
Light sheet optic with mounts for use on a light guide
arm

Light sheet confocal length vs working distance

Use of Light Guide Arms

Dantec Dynamics Light Sheet Optics can be used
mounted on a Light Guide Arm to bring the laser light
exactly to where it is needed.
The use of a Light Guide Arm improves the ease of
use of the set-up, especially when the optical access
is difficult.
No matter if Light Sheet Optics will be mounted onto
the Laser or onto a light guide arm. The needed
components are part of the Base Module 9081x0801.
In order to ensure the correct beam diameter for the
light sheet optics, a 9080X0481Beam Waist Adjuster
can be mounted onto the Base Module. Light sheet optic configured for direct mount on a
laser head with 90° mirror
High Power Nd:YAG light-sheet series Product Information

Specifications Ordering information

Light-sheet thickness Adjustable with 80X91 Model Description

Variable Focus Module 9081X0801 Base Module for lasers and light-
Sheet focusing range 200 mm–4000 mm guide arms
(dependent on beam 9080X0231 Entrance Module Basic
diameter and beam
divergence) 9080X8901 Entrance Module P1.7mm

Optical transmission > 95% 9080X8931 Entrance Module P3.6mm

9080X8941 Entrance Module P4.6mm
Optical coating 527/532 nm
9080X8951 Entrance Module P5.8mm
Max. input pulse energy 2x400 mJ for 10 ns 9080X8961 Entrance Module P7.4mm
pulses and a 9 mm beam
9080X8971 Entrance Module P9.4mm
Max. input beam 12 mm 9080X8981 Entrance Module P12mm
diameter
9080X8991 Entrance Module P16mm
Input polarisation Any
9080X0911 Variable Focus Module
Dimensions 9080X0941 Angle Module 1

Diameter 55 mm 9080X0951 Angle Module 2

9080X0961 Angle Module 4
Length 60 mm–140 mm
9080X0891 90° Mirror for light sheet

Publication No.: pi_300_v7

Dantec Dynamics undertakes a continuous and intensive product

development programme to ensure that its instruments perform to the
highest technical standards. As a result the specifications in this
document are subject to change without notice.

www.dantecdynamics.com