As challenges such as drone swarms, hypersonic weapons and autonomous systems are emerging rapidly, especially directed energy weapon (DEW) systems are becoming a strategic priority.
These systems applying massive amounts of laser power are seen as game-changing technology, capable of neutralizing threats in real time with speed, precision and relatively low operating costs. On the technical side they also combine multiple advantages: Because they apply coherent light, there are no effects of gravity on the rounds. They travel at the speed of light and without any sound. The output can be controlled, at lethal and non-lethal doses. If there isn’t a malfunction of the system, the soldier or sailor will have unlimited ammunition. And even though the environment will affect the performance of the laser, this can be offset through optical-mechanical compensations.
The first step to control a laser beam is to measure its output power. While it may sound simple, measuring laser beams in the high-kilowatt range poses a significant technical challenge. Only few metrology companies worldwide can handle the power levels typical of DEW systems. MKS has been at the forefront of this field from the beginning. In 2015, the first Ophir® sensor was released that was able to collect over 99% of a laser beam up to 100 kW of average or continuous-wave power. This product has advanced over the years and just recently, MKS has released the Ophir 150K-W Water-Cooled Ultra-High Power Sensor.
Discover the Future of Precision:
Explore the challenges and cutting-edge solutions in laser measurement for directed energy applications.
🎥 Watch the video “Laser Measurement Solutions for Directed Energy Applications” to learn how advanced metrology is shaping the future of high-power laser systems.
MKS has also met customer demands for beam termination and power measurement of lasers over 30kW with the recent introduction of the Ophir 70K-W Water-Cooled Calorimetric Sensor. This product provides an industrialized solution for material processing lasers increasing in power and reduces the cost for measuring and terminating lasers between 30kW and 70kW. At Laser World of Photonics in Munich, MKS introduced the unique Power from Pulse™ capability of the Ophir sensor that is especially important for the usage in military and defense applications. The new functionality allows accurate power measurement from a short exposure of the laser – extending measurement capacity up to 100kW. This breakthrough makes it exceptionally well-suited for DEW where lasers typically operate in fast, high-energy bursts. The unique design of the 70K-W laser sensor combines accurate power measurement and beam dumping within the same device. This simplifies test setups and delivers exceptional accuracy and dependable performance for high-power systems, along with built-in safety, connectivity, and easy integration features.
Analyzing High-Power Beams
Lasers that push photons of the magnitude of multiple kilowatts of average or continuous-wave power are more susceptible to thermal effects on their components. Additionally, the degradation of components can happen at a faster rate at these higher powers, more quickly resulting in less efficient performance of the system. Measuring the laser power on a regular basis serves as a first indicator if the laser still works according to its specifications. To understand how these effects and changes to the laser’s system affect the overall system’s performance, additional parameters need to be taken.
In addition to the large variety of laser power measurement sensors, MKS offers a unique beam analysis technology based on measuring the Rayleigh scattering of the laser beam: The Ophir BeamWatch® Non-Contact Beam Profiler quickly and accurately measures laser parameters without requiring contact with the laser beam.
The system takes continuous measurements and provides instant readings of focus spot size, beam position, and the full beam caustic, as well as dynamic measurements of focal plane location during process start-up. For example, the focus spot size is necessary to determine the power density of the laser beam (expressed as Watts per square centimeter – W/cm2) which is a key parameter to characterize the performance of the laser beam.
The Broader Power of Laser Technology
Lasers are playing an increasingly vital role in modern defense strategies. In addition to the use in DEW, they are used in applications such as targeting and range finding as well as mobile 3D metal printing to ease logistical burdens and enable on-site production of spare parts. Laser also support secure optical communication, reconnaissance, and sensor countermeasures. Even though all these applications are based on completely different types of lasers in power ranges spanning from mW to 300kW, one thing is certain: whoever knows the laser parameters and complies best with the specifications wins.
By John McCauley, Business Development Manager, MKS I Ophir
To find more information on laser beam measurement, check out our website www.ophiropt.com
Ophir Spiricon Europe GmbH (MKS Inc.)
Guerickeweg 7
D-64291 Darmstadt
Info-Ophir-EU@mks.com
www.ophiropt.com
Zentrale: +49 6151-708-0
Sponsered Industry Insight:
By John McCauley Business Development Manager MKS I Ophir
![Image 1: Ophir SupIR 10-135mm f/1.8 designed for 5 µm SXGA MWIR detectors. [Credit: MKS Ophir]](https://euro-sd.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/680540-Kopie-218x150.jpg "Shrinking Pixels, Maintaining Performance, in Infrared Imaging Systems")
