The divergence angle is the angle at which a light beam or laser spreads out after leaving a source . The greater the divergence angle, the faster the light spreads. This is an important parameter in optics, lasers, and lighting systems.
1. Characteristics of the divergence angle
✅ Measure the spread of a light beam → The larger the angle, the faster the light spreads.
✅ Small divergence = narrow beam → For example in lasers and telescope lamps .
✅ Large divergence = wide spread → For example in LEDs, flashlights and car headlights .
✅ Depending on the light source and lens → Lasers have an extremely small divergence angle , while normal light sources have a much larger one.
✅ Strongly influenced by collimation → The better the collimation, the smaller the divergence angle.
2. How is the divergence angle calculated?
The divergence angle can be estimated with:
whereby:
- = diameter of the light source or output aperture.
- = focal length of the lens or optical system.
📌 Rule of thumb: The smaller the aperture and the longer the focal length, the smaller the angle of divergence.
For lasers, a simple approach is often used:
whereby:
- = wavelength of light.
- = radius of the beam at the exit.
3. Applications of the divergence angle
📍 Laser Systems → Low divergence lasers are used for cutting, measuring and communications .
📍 Projectors and spotlights → Low divergence means longer projection distance with sharp light .
📍 LED lighting and car lamps → High divergence means wide dispersion for large areas .
📍 Telescope optics → The smaller the divergence, the sharper the image at long distances.
📍 Medical lasers and scanners → For precision applications such as laser eye surgery and LIDAR .
4. Difference between divergence angle and collimation angle
| Feature | Divergence angle | Collimation angle |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | How wide a beam of light spreads | How well a light beam remains parallel |
| Size | Greater with spreading light sources | As small as possible for accurate beams |
| Example | LED lamps, car headlights | Lasers, optical systems |
📌 Small divergence = Low dispersion = Tight bundle.
💡 In short:
The divergence angle indicates how much a light beam spreads out after leaving the source . The smaller the divergence angle , the more focused the light remains, which is essential for lasers, projection systems, and precision optics .