Laser Question

[FallOutFighter]

Does anyone know what single mode means? Like for this laser here:

HL 520nm 30mW-150mW

The 30mw and 50mw ones are single mode.

 

[IsaacT]

Well I suppose that depends on how much detail you want.

BASICS:

Single Mode: Both Axis' diverge at the same rate, and the resultant output appears like a dot.
Multimode: One Axis diverges somewhat slowly, while another, known as the long axis, diverges quite swiftly. This results in more of a bar shape at a distance.

Does this explain what you wanted to know? Single mode lasers have thinner beams that are more radially symmetrical than do multimode diodes. Multimode diodes show a wide variety of severities, and can range from unnoticeable(PL520-B1) to severe (Mitsubishi P73). The more severe, the more like a flat sheet or a fan the beam looks like.

 

[Rifter]

Well I suppose that depends on how much detail you want.

BASICS:

Single Mode: Both Axis' diverge at the same rate, and the resultant output appears like a dot.
Multimode: One Axis diverges somewhat slowly, while another, known as the long axis, diverges quite swiftly. This results in more of a bar shape at a distance.

Does this explain what you wanted to know? Single mode lasers have thinner beams that are more radially symmetrical than do multimode diodes. Multimode diodes show a wide variety of severities, and can range from unnoticeable(PL520-B1) to severe (Mitsubishi P73). The more severe, the more like a flat sheet or a fan the beam looks like.

He covered it very well.

Ill add to that and say single mode generally burns better at the same power output, but multimode has such high power output compared to single mode this is mostly a moot point.

IMHO Single mode has much better dots and better beams, i much prefer single mode lasers as multimode tends to fan out and have the beam fade out at medium to long ranges while single mode holds together(better divergence) and can punch through to longer distances and remain visible.

 

[FallOutFighter]

Well I suppose that depends on how much detail you want.

BASICS:

Single Mode: Both Axis' diverge at the same rate, and the resultant output appears like a dot.
Multimode: One Axis diverges somewhat slowly, while another, known as the long axis, diverges quite swiftly. This results in more of a bar shape at a distance.

Does this explain what you wanted to know? Single mode lasers have thinner beams that are more radially symmetrical than do multimode diodes. Multimode diodes show a wide variety of severities, and can range from unnoticeable(PL520-B1) to severe (Mitsubishi P73). The more severe, the more like a flat sheet or a fan the beam looks like.

Thank you. I understand Single Mode more now.