Controlling laser polarization

摘要

A laser polarization control apparatus includes a polarization modifying device and a controller. The polarization modifying device receives a laser beam and modifies the polarization of the laser beam. The controller adjusts an input to the polarization modifying device in order to control modification of the polarization of the laser beam based on alignment of a structure to be processed by the laser beam. The polarization modifying device is configured for incorporation into a laser processing system that produces the laser beam received by the polarization modifying device and that focuses the laser beam modified by the polarization modifying device onto a workpiece that includes the structure to be processed by the laser beam. An analyzer tool receives the laser beam modified by the polarization modification device and measures the modification of the polarization of the laser beam by the polarization modification device. A plurality of inputs are applied to the polarization modifying device to control modification of the polarization of the laser beam, and the laser beam modified by the polarization modification device is analyzed using the analyzer tool in order to measure modification of the polarization of the laser beam by the polarization modification device. The relationship between the inputs to the polarization control device and the modification of the polarization of the laser beam is stored.