Performance evaluation of a 980nm laser system in varying atmospheric conditions

Infrared lasers operating at 980 nm are widely used in telecommunications, medical devices, and industrial applications; however, their performance is strongly influenced by environmental conditions. This study investigates the impact of temperature, humidity, and particulate matter (smoke and dust) on the performance of a 980 nm infrared laser. An experimental setup was developed using an infrared laser module integrated with an array of environmental sensors and Arduino microcontrollers for real-time data acquisition. Experiments were conducted under temperatures ranging from 28 to 55 °C and relative humidity levels between 10% and 80%. In addition, the effects of smoke concentration and dust density were examined. The results demonstrate a clear degradation in laser performance with increasing temperature, humidity, and particle concentration. Elevated temperatures reduced laser efficiency, while high humidity caused additional optical losses due to absorption and scattering. Smoke and dust particles significantly attenuated the laser signal by scattering and absorbing infrared radiation. A pronounced reduction in optical power was observed as dust density increased from 8.57 mg/m³ to 208.44 mg/m³, with power values decreasing from 331.5 µW to 95.2 µW. These findings highlight the sensitivity of 980 nm laser systems to environmental variations and emphasize the need for effective thermal management, humidity control, and particle protection. The study provides practical insights for improving the reliability and performance of infrared laser systems operating in challenging environmental conditions.