Safety hazards of lasers w/o IR filter
- Thread starter Gagoka
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Ragnarok
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The potential danger if unfiltered IR in a visible laser's output stems from at least four factors:
1. You can't see it. Your eye-blink response will not kick in, even if the IR component of the beam is shining directly in your eye(s).
2. Goggles purchased for use to block the visible wavelength MAY NOT block the IR. There are some that do both. It is up to the user/viewer to have the proper eyewear.
3. The IR component of a visible laser, if present, MAY NOT be coincident or codivergent with the visible beam. If there are reflective or optical surfaces close to the beam, they may be reflecting or focusing the IR portion in unknown ways and directions. Your optical setup might look fine in the visible, but just where IS that IR, and where is it going?
4. In badly made lasers, the IR component may actually be stronger than the visible one. In the case of a higher powered laser, looking at the spot on a light colored surface might be dazzling in the visible, but much "brighter" in IR, with potential for damage.
You need to know how much IR is being emitted from the laser. A properly filtered laser will have a residual IR component that is far less than would cause any concern. If the laser emits more than a milliwatt or so of IR and you have no way to see it (some video cameras pick up IR), the dual-wavelength goggles are a must, or an IR filter may be placed at the output aperture of the laser.
1. You can't see it. Your eye-blink response will not kick in, even if the IR component of the beam is shining directly in your eye(s).
2. Goggles purchased for use to block the visible wavelength MAY NOT block the IR. There are some that do both. It is up to the user/viewer to have the proper eyewear.
3. The IR component of a visible laser, if present, MAY NOT be coincident or codivergent with the visible beam. If there are reflective or optical surfaces close to the beam, they may be reflecting or focusing the IR portion in unknown ways and directions. Your optical setup might look fine in the visible, but just where IS that IR, and where is it going?
4. In badly made lasers, the IR component may actually be stronger than the visible one. In the case of a higher powered laser, looking at the spot on a light colored surface might be dazzling in the visible, but much "brighter" in IR, with potential for damage.
You need to know how much IR is being emitted from the laser. A properly filtered laser will have a residual IR component that is far less than would cause any concern. If the laser emits more than a milliwatt or so of IR and you have no way to see it (some video cameras pick up IR), the dual-wavelength goggles are a must, or an IR filter may be placed at the output aperture of the laser.
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