What is a flat top laser beam?

A flat top laser beam is a laser beam whose light intensity distribution is uniform on the cross section of the laser and with a sharp drop-off at the edges. According to the laser application, the light intensity profile can be modified. An example would be a Gaussian laser beam, whose light intensity reaches its maximum at the central axis and smoothly reduces until it reaches zero at the edge of the laser beam. This type of laser is mainly used for laser cutting. For optical particle counting, counting accuracy increases in the presence of flat top laser beam. The generation of a flat top laser beam can be achieved using an optical beam shaper, with which the initial Gaussian laser beam is capable of being converted to flat top laser beam.

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