A webcam as a light probe beam profiler

The uses of webcam as a probe beam analyzer were discussed. The webcam allowed an easy and highly spatially resolved visualization of the beam shape together with standard laboratory equipment and a common personal computer (PC). The webcam was operated at fixed exposure time through the factory control software and images were processed by means of the image pro-plus software. The webcam was also used for visualizing beam shape either pulsed or continuous wave at a low cost.