I How do I stretch a laser from a beam into a sheet?

[LightningInAJar]

TL;DR

How do I stretch a laser from a beam into a sheet? Cylindrical lens?

I would like to fan out a laser pointer's beam into a sheet of light, so basically stretch it along a single axis so it creates a plain. I wasn't sure if a cylindrical lens was the right tool for the job? And I figure I might need a few laser pointers all piped into it to ensure enough light is left after it is stretched.

 

[DaveE]

TL;DR: How do I stretch a laser from a beam into a sheet? Cylindrical lens?

I wasn't sure if a cylindrical lens was the right tool for the job?

Yes, most likely. Maybe two if you want 1D collimation.

 

[sophiecentaur]

TL;DR: How do I stretch a laser from a beam into a sheet? Cylindrical lens?

And I figure I might need a few laser pointers all piped into it to ensure enough light is left after it is stretched

A very cheap laser level will have an optional end cap for the output which gives a projected straight line. I used to have one but I never actually looked at what was in that cap. (Shame on me!!!! - very unPF)

TL;DR: How do I stretch a laser from a beam into a sheet? Cylindrical lens?

stretch it along a single axis so it creates a plain.

Reading this again suggests you need a spreader with circular symmetry. A cylindrical lens would only work along one axis (as my quoted laser line source, above). A simple diffuser could work but spreading the laser power over a large area would make it very dim. OR do you mean you want to produce a 'sheet' as the light goes through a smoky medium?

 

[tech99]

I think you might use a Galilean telescope arrangement. First a concave lens to expand the beam diameter, followed by a large cylindrical lens to spread the beam in the one plane.

 

[Baluncore]

Use a cylindrical lens with a vertical axis, to convert the dot on a wall from a laser level, into a horizontal line on the wall.

 

[tech99]

The initial beam from the laser must have finite diameter for it to work I think, that is why I suggested a first, round concave lens as a spreader. The final lens need to be concave cylindrical.

 

[Ibix]

Worth asking why @LightningInAJar wants this, to put some constraints on reasonable solutions.