
MKS Inc. announced the enhanced Ophir® 70K-W Ultra-High Power Laser Sensor at Laser World of Photonics 2025. Designed to meet the stringent demands of industrial and defense environments, the enhanced Ophir 70K-W sensor delivers precise CW laser power measurements up to 70 kW. Now featuring a unique Power from Pulse™ capability, it enables accurate power measurements from short-duration laser exposures - extending measurement capacity up to 100 kW. This breakthrough makes it exceptionally well-suited for High Energy Laser Weapon Systems (HELWS), where lasers typically operate in fast, high-energy bursts.
"In certain directed energy applications, the laser may lase for mere seconds," said Reuven Silverman, General Manager, Ophir Photonics Products. "This makes measurement with traditional calorimetric sensors impossible as they have a typical response time of 40 seconds or more. That meant more complex setups with indirect power measurement were required. The unique design of the 70K-W laser sensor combines accurate power measurement and beam dumping within the same device, overcoming these challenges. The new Power from Pulse function allows accurate power measurement from a short exposure of the laser. 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."
The 70K-W Ultra-High Power Laser Sensor is an efficient solution that covers the spectral range from 900 - 1100 nm and 10.6 µm. It is a tap water or deionized (DI) water-cooled, calorimetric sensor that incorporates both power sensing and beam dumping functions. Its lightweight design (under 40 kg without water) and multiple interfaces – including Ethernet and RS232 – for communication, analog output, and real-time laser power monitoring output, allow easy integration into various industrial and defense applications, such as high-power fiber laser development and testing, industrial cutting, and directed energy systems. Enhanced safety is achieved through a built-in interlock output and exceptionally low back reflection of <0.5%, a critical feature for high-power environments.
The 70K-W Ultra-High Power Laser Sensor features a large 130 mm aperture and is compatible with a wide NA range from collimated beams up to 0.22. It accommodates vertical and horizontal beams, and customer-provided fiber adapters for tailored applications. An integrated photodiode provides real-time laser power monitoring, which can be directly connected to third-party devices for instantaneous control or feedback. The sensor can be powered using a local power supply or via the Ethernet communication port using Power Over Ethernet (POE).
Availability: The Ophir 70K-W Ultra-High Power Laser Sensor is available now.