Questions about 20mW 405nm - Please help! Thanks :)

[Chaos3737]

Hi everyone! This is my first post here - I made an account because I couldn't seem to search up the answers to some of these questions.
I was looking at the Rayfoss RF405-20mW-BLP (Link).

I was wondering:
1) Does anybody know if this laser actually puts out something in the range of 20-30mW? I don't want it to be so overspec (say, 80mW) that I risk eye damage from pointing it at a white wall and looking at the dot.

2) Also, is it safe to look at the dot of a laser in this power range when pointed at a white wall?

3) Do I need an IR filter or IR filtering glasses for this laser? I'm not sure if it's DPSS or not, and if it is, what frequencies of IR would it produce?

4) I've heard some stuff about near-UV lasers affecting color vision over time. If I used this without goggles when there is no danger of a direct reflection (say, pointing at a white wall or at the sky), would my color vision be affected over time?

5) Do goggles for 405nm beams protect against the blue light danger as well as instant damage form the beam?

6) Lastly, is 20mW strong enough to get fluorescent effects? Also, I know short wavelength light is more readily absorbed - will this laser have any burning properties at all? Also, is hitting skin with 20mW violet light a cancer risk like the stronger 395nm lasers?

Sorry for all the questions, but thanks everybody who reads this :thanks:

 

[billg519]

Hi and welcome to the forum. You're probably not getting many answers because searching and reading around would answer your questions, but anyway.

1) I don't own this laser so I can't say for sure, but it shouldn't be over 50mW. An LPM is required to know for sure.

2) Depends how close you are to the white wall, and the wall composition. A high gloss reflective wall will be a danger even at a considerable distance. A wall painted flat or semi gloss white, and viewed at across the room distance (not the bathroom, too small) should be OK at this power level.

3) This is a diode laser. There is no IR.

4) This laser is lower powered and probably will see infrequent use. You are at no danger of color vision loss if pointing outside. Note that a bluray of this power will not be useful for star pointing, the 405nm beam is hard to perceive. Its' main use will be fluorescence and phosphorescence.

5) Yes, goggles will protect from a direct beam strike, as well as any diffused 405nm light. They will block the 405, allowing you to see any fluorescent effects better.

6) About all this power level is good for is fluorescent and phosphorescent experiments. If tightly focused with a good lens, 20mW of 405nm can light a match. There are a few forum members who have done this. You should avoid any skin irradiation with the direct beam. No need to shine it on yourself, unless you are looking for fluorescent material stuck to you or something, in which case you would have the lens adjusted to produce a large spot rather than a tiny point.

Goggles should be worn by the operator and any spectators for any close range indoor use where there is any possibilty whatsoever of a reflection. Basically, nearly all the time.

 

[Chaos3737]

Thanks for the help!