After a laser beam exits a fiber, how is the beam characterized?

When a laser beam exits a fiber, it is typically characterized as collimated. This means that the beam travels in parallel rays, maintaining a consistent diameter over a distance instead of spreading out. Fiber optic systems are designed to produce collimated beams because the core of the fiber is constructed to efficiently guide light, minimizing beam divergence.

The collimation is crucial for applications requiring high precision, as it allows the laser light to maintain focus over longer distances without significant spreading. This property is particularly beneficial in medical and industrial applications where accuracy and concentration of the laser energy are vital for effectiveness and safety.

While divergent beams spread out quickly as they travel, a collimated beam offers the advantage of concentrating the laser energy in a smaller area, enhancing its efficacy. Other characteristics mentioned, such as being focused or frequency-shifted, do not apply in the context of how a beam behaves as it exits a fiber; rather, they pertain to other aspects of laser technology.