A New Power Meter concept for High Energy Lasers

We describe a new concept for measurement of High Energy Laser (HEL) power. The technique is based upon the phenomenon of optoacoustic detection, which is a sensitive measurement of the sound waves created by absorption of a laser beam of known power with a sample of absorber material for the purpose of absorption coefficient determination. We propose that his process can be inverted to produce an absolute measurement of laser power by using a material for which the absorption coefficient at the laser frequency is sufficiently well known. We present a conceptual design and we suggest studies for future development of the concept. (Author)