1 Scope
This document specifies a method, which is a relatively quick and simple method with
minimum equipment, for determining the polarization status and, whenever possible, the degree of polarization of the beam from a continuous wave (cw) laser. It can also be applied to repetitively
pulsed lasers, if their electric field vector orientation does not change from pulse
to pulse.
This document also specifies the method for determining the direction of the electric-field
vector oscillation in the case of (completely or partially) linearly polarized laser
beams. It is assumed that the laser radiation is quasimonochromatic and sufficiently
stable for the purpose of the measurement. This document is applicable to radiation
that has uniform polarization over its cross-sectional area.
The knowledge of the polarization status can be very important for some applications of lasers with a high divergence
angle, for instance when the beam of such a laser shall be coupled with polarization dependent devices (e.g. polarization maintaining fibres). This document is applicable not only for a narrow and almost
collimated laser beam but also for highly divergent beams as well as for beams with
large apertures.
BS EN ISO 12005:2022 Referenced Document
ISO 11145 Optics and photonics — Lasers and laser-related equipment — Vocabulary and symbols
ISO 11554 Optics and photonics — Lasers and laser-related equipment — Test methods for laser beam power, energy and temporal characteristics
BS EN ISO 12005:2022 history
2022BS EN ISO 12005:2022 Lasers and laser-related equipment. Test methods for laser beam parameters. Polarization
2003BS EN ISO 12005:2003 Lasers and laser-related equipment. Test methods for laser beam parameters. Polarization