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Laser Viewing Cards![]()
VRC1 VRC2 VRC5 VRC4 VRC6S 250 to 540 nm 400 to 640 nm 700 to 1400 nm 790 to 840 nm, 1.5 to >13.2 µm ![]() Please Wait Features
Thorlabs offers a selection of detector cards for use with UV, Visible, Near-IR (NIR), or Mid-IR (MIR) radiation. These cards are fabricated from plastic with a liquid crystal photosensitive region. Each card's light-sensitive detector area allows for the easy location of a UV, Visible, NIR, or MIR laser beam and its focal point. To facilitate their use during alignment procedures, every card except the VRC5 has a detection region that extends all the way to the edge of the card and two engraved reticles for use in laser beam collimation. Please note that these detector cards are not intended to be used as laser beam blocks, and appropriate safety measures should be taken when working with laser beams. See the Laser Safety tab for details. ![]() Click to Enlarge Wavelength Absorption from 400 - 640 nm & 800 - 1700 nm Wavelength Emission from ~580 - 750 nm ![]() Click to Enlarge Wavelength Absorption from 790 - 840 nm & 870 - 1070 nm & 1500 - 1590 nm Wavelength Emission from ~520 - 580 nm Laser Safety and ClassificationSafe practices and proper usage of safety equipment should be taken into consideration when operating lasers. The eye is susceptible to injury, even from very low levels of laser light. Thorlabs offers a range of laser safety accessories that can be used to reduce the risk of accidents or injuries. Laser emission in the visible and near infrared spectral ranges has the greatest potential for retinal injury, as the cornea and lens are transparent to those wavelengths, and the lens can focus the laser energy onto the retina. Safe Practices and Light Safety Accessories
Laser ClassificationLasers are categorized into different classes according to their ability to cause eye and other damage. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a global organization that prepares and publishes international standards for all electrical, electronic, and related technologies. The IEC document 60825-1 outlines the safety of laser products. A description of each class of laser is given below:
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The VRC1 is a credit-card-sized detector card for viewing light in the 250 to 540 nm wavelength range. The lower front surface of this durable plastic card is photosensitive and enables the easy location of ultra-violet (UV) and visible (through 540 nm) light beams and focal points. As it is not necessary to charge the active region of the card before use, either CW or pulsed incident light will generate emission, even when the card is used in a darkened room. To facilitate the use of the card during alignment procedures, the detection region extends all the way to the edge of the card and includes two engraved reticles for use in laser beam collimation. These reticles, formed from lines that are about 0.004" wide, feature two concentric circles that have diameters of approximately 0.063" and 0.288" with horizontal and vertical lines that are approximately 0.512" long. When the card is used in a darkened room with a sufficiently bright source, the fluorescence from the activated photosensitive region can be seen through the back of the card. The photosensitive region can also be activated by illuminating the back of the card, which is useful when aligning two beams to overlap. ![]()
The VRC2 is a credit-card-sized detector card for viewing light in the 400 to 640 nm or the 800 to 1700 nm wavelength range. The lower front surface of this durable plastic card is photosensitive and enables the easy location of visible or near-infrared (NIR) light beams and focal points. Before using the card, it is necessary to charge the active region with visible light. As a consequence of the card needing to be charged to generate emission, during operation the user must move the position of the incident light spot around the active region to maintain the intensity of the excited emission. To facilitate the use of the card during alignment procedures, the detection region extends all the way to the edge of the card and includes two engraved reticles for use in laser beam collimation. These reticles, formed from lines that are about 0.004" wide, feature two concentric circles that have diameters of approximately 0.063" and 0.288" with horizontal and vertical lines that are approximately 0.512" long. ![]()
The VRC5 laser viewing card is designed for operation in the 700 to 1400 nm wavelength range. The photosensitive area at the top of the card measures 1.50" x 0.75" and is laminated between sheets of durable clear plastic. Before the card is used, the active region must be charged with visible light. As a consequence of the card needing to be charged to generate emission, during operation the user must move the position of the incident light spot around the active region to maintain the intensity of the excited emission. ![]()
The VRC4 is a credit-card-sized detector card for viewing light in the 790 to 840 nm, 870 to 1070 nm, and 1500 to 1590 nm wavelength ranges. The lower front surface of this durable plastic card is photosensitive and enables the easy location of near-infrared (NIR) light beams and focal points. As it is not necessary to charge the active region of the card before use, either CW or pulsed incident light will generate emission, even when the card is used in a darkened room. To facilitate the use of the card during alignment procedures, the detection region extends all the way to the edge of the card and includes two engraved reticles for use in laser beam collimation. These reticles, formed from lines that are about 0.004" wide, feature two concentric circles that have diameters of approximately 0.063" and 0.288" with horizontal and vertical lines that are approximately 0.512" long. When the card is used in a darkened room with a sufficiently bright source, the fluorescence from the activated photosensitive region can be seen through the back of the card. The photosensitive region can also be activated by illuminating the back of the card, which is useful when aligning two beams to overlap. ![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge Ø4.0 mm Spot at 2.0 mW/mm2 The spot generated on a VRC6S card by a 1550 nm laser with a Ø3.3 mm beam at two different power densities.
The VRC6S and VRC6H MIR Liquid Crystal Detector Cards are designed to react to wavelengths from 1.5 µm to at least 13.2 µm. The detector area is a thin layer of thermochromic liquid crystals (TLC), which are temperature-sensitive organic chemicals with twisted helical molecular structures, protected by a mylar film. MIR light changes the temperature of the detector area, resulting in a color change. The detection region extends all the way to the edge of the card in order to facilitate the use of the card during alignment procedures, and each card features two engraved reticles for use in laser beam collimation. These cards feature enhanced sensitivity over competitor's offerings due to the TLC material used as well as the lack of backing on the detector area. The sensitivity achieved depends on the difference in temperature between the room and the LC material's activation temperature. The VRC6S laser card is recommended for use with an ambient temperature of 20 to 24 °C and begins to show color changes when the TLC material reaches approximately 23 °C. The peak sensitivity and responsivity occur at an ambient temperature of 22 °C. The detector area is black below approximately 23 °C and turns blue/violet around 28 °C. For room temperatures resting above the range of the VRC6S, the VRC6H is ideal. It is recommended for use with an ambient temperature of 25 to 30 °C and begins to show color changes when the TLC material reaches approximately 28 °C. The peak sensitivity and responsivity occur at an ambient temperature of 28 °C. The detector area is black below approximately 29 °C and turns blue/violet around 33 °C. To restore a card after beam exposure, rest is on a flat on a table top (i.e. an optical table with stainless steel surface) for a few minutes. The cards may take longer to recover after exposure to higher laser energy, and sometimes the color change may look permanent at room temperature. If this occurs, place the cards in a refrigerator at 0 to 4 °C for a few minutes to accelerate the recovery. Please Note: The spot size on these cards will vary depending on the beam power, as shown in the photos to the right. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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