Diffraction Gratings Make Laser Shows and Laser Displays

To quote a paragraph from Wikipedia, a diffraction grating is "an optical component with a regular pattern, which splits (diffracts) light into several beams traveling in different directions. The directions of these beams depend on the spacing of the grating and the wavelength of the light so that the grating acts as a dispersive element.

With laser displays, diffraction gratings are used to split monochromatic (single color) beam into a pattern of multiple beams. The most common patterns produced from lasers by diffraction gratings is a matrix pattern and a single line pattern. A matrix pattern is where the beam is split into a grid of multiple laser beams. A single line pattern is when the laser beam is split into a line of beams like the spokes on a wheel. The number of beams produced depends on the design and quality of the diffraction grating.

The two ways a diffraction grating can be split a laser beam, by transmission or by reflection. In transmission, the laser beam passes through the diffraction grating and is split during the passage. In reflection, the laser beam penetrates the surface where it is split then reflected back. The two different methods of diffraction add flexibility and versatility to laser displays.

Diffraction gratings are not just limited to one color or even just one laser beam at a time. One diffraction grating can diffract the full spectrum of visible wavelengths and diffract multiple laser beams at one time. This means that any number of red, blue and green lasers can be split into patterns by just one diffraction grating to create stunning laser shows. The complexity of laser shows with diffraction gratings can vary from one stationary diffraction grating to multiple moving diffraction gratings depending on the effects needed.

In terms of quality, diffraction gratings can range from thin polymer sheets to optical glass with aluminum coating. The polymer diffraction gratings can only be used with low powered lasers. The higher powered lasers produce too much heat and would melt the polymer. Only specialist diffraction gratings can tolerate the high temperatures and be used for large scale laser shows.

At just over half the size of a business card, diffraction gratings are small, portable, easy to use and can create or greatly enhance any type of laser show or display. Find more on Laser Diffraction Gratings.