How to choose a laser power meter?

Choosing a laser power meter requires considering several factors: power range, wavelength range, detector type, measurement accuracy, and operating environment.

Power range
It is important to know the approximate range of laser power that needs to be measured. If you are measuring low-power lasers, you need to choose a power meter with high sensitivity and low power range. If you are using high-power lasers, you need to choose a power meter that can withstand and accurately measure high power.

Wavelength range
Different laser power meters have different wavelength response ranges. For example, a power meter used to measure visible light lasers (400 - 700nm) may not be suitable for infrared or ultraviolet lasers. Therefore, you need to choose a power meter that matches the actual measured laser wavelength. For multi-wavelength laser systems, please choose a power meter with a wide wavelength range or adjustable wavelength settings.

Detector type
Thermopile detectors and photodetectors are common ones. Thermopile detectors have a relatively slow response speed but can withstand high power and are suitable for measuring continuous-wave high-power lasers. Photodetectors have a fast response speed and are suitable for measuring pulsed lasers, but they are easily saturated and may require an attenuation device for high-power measurements.

Measurement accuracy
For application scenarios that require high-precision measurements, such as scientific research and high-precision processing, it is necessary to select a power meter with high resolution that can accurately measure a small power range to ensure the accuracy of the measurement results.

Usage environment
If used in a harsh environment, please consider factors such as the ruggedness and anti-interference ability of the laser power meter. Data recording and communication functions are also important. Power meters with data storage and transmission functions can easily transfer measurement data to a computer.