Calculate Total Solid Angle from Perpendicular Divergences in a Laser Beam?

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sachi
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we have radiation contained within a spectral band of width delta lambbda such tha (delta lambda)/lambda = (10^-4) the laser beam has a diameter of 50 micrometers and it has a divergence in both the horizontal and vertical directions of 10 millirads. we need to calculate the spectral brightness of the beam - i.e the power per unit area per unit solid angle per 0.01 percent bandwith. I can calculate the power, the area (this is the original area of the beam before it diverges) okay, but I'm a bit confused about the total solid angle. how do you convert a divergence is two perpendicular directions into a total solid angle (I have a feeling it has something to do with multiplying them together). thanks very much for your help.

Sachi
 
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sachi said:
...but I'm a bit confused about the total solid angle. how do you convert a divergence is two perpendicular directions into a total solid angle
Because the divergences are equal in both directions, the shape of the window formed on a distant plane will be a circle. If the total divergence angle is [itex]\theta[/itex] and this plane is at a distance R from the source, which is large compared to the width of the beam, then the area of the circle formed on the plane is [itex]\pi R^2 tan^2(\theta/2) \approx \pi R^2 \theta^2/4[/itex]. Dividing by [itex]R^2[/itex] gives you the total solid angle.