<p>The way most stage laser effects work is by using a holographic plate or diffraction grating which splits the single beam up into multiple beams. </p>

<p><em>[image removed due to a DMCA request from copyright holder]</em></p>

<p>These then pass to further holographic elements to provide shapes and lines, and these can then be manipulated further with lenses or mirrors.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-11T08:53:49.263Z
That's pretty cool. So it works a little bit like the [double-slit experiment](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-slit_experiment)?
Polynomial
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-11T08:57:55.350Z
Very much so - when I did my laser optics course we actually used double slit slides, but apparently now holographic plates are all the rage, and can produce from 2 to millions of individual beams!
Dr Mayhem
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-11T09:12:21.710Z
I'll have to look into holographic plates. Might warrant a post on physics.SE, actually.
Polynomial
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-11T09:49:00.477Z
Any idea what a good search term is for finding these plates? eBay produces some [undesirable results](http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150947939673) if you search for "holographic plate".
Polynomial
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-11T10:03:05.880Z
"holograph laser elements" seems to work okay
Dr Mayhem
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-11T13:07:09.960Z
very cool indeed :)
JoshP
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-11T08:46:53.293Z
2013-05-02T02:47:02.177Z
2013-05-02T02:47:02.177Z
Dr Mayhem
<p>I'm not entirely sure if this is on-topic here, since it's about stage lighting rather than audio or video directly, but I'll give it a shot.</p>

<p>I've been looking at various types of laser stage lighting, and I'm trying to work out how they work internally. I figure the scanning lasers (single fast-moving beam) work by firing a single laser onto a rotating mirror, or a mirror controlled by servos for more precise movements.</p>

<p>However, I can't figure out how the cluster lasers work. I'd guess there's some kind of prism in there, or some trickery with a set of mirrors and lenses that somehow "split" the beam, but I can't quite figure it out. My first thought was a fixed prism, but that wouldn't explain how these devices can spread, focus and rotate the beams.</p>

<p>How do these laser effects usually work?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-10T23:26:13.410Z
The question as to whether lighting questions are on topic or not [has been asked](http://meta.avp.stackexchange.com/questions/177/are-lighting-questions-on-topic), though I don't think it's been settled.  There are a number of questions tagged [lighting], though most of those have a production angle.  You're a little bit in uncharted territory here.
JoshP
<effects><lighting>
Cluster laser stage lighting
Polynomial
# Cluster laser stage lighting

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-12-10)

I'm not entirely sure if this is on-topic here, since it's about stage lighting rather than audio or video directly, but I'll give it a shot.

I've been looking at various types of laser stage lighting, and I'm trying to work out how they work internally. I figure the scanning lasers (single fast-moving beam) work by firing a single laser onto a rotating mirror, or a mirror controlled by servos for more precise movements.

However, I can't figure out how the cluster lasers work. I'd guess there's some kind of prism in there, or some trickery with a set of mirrors and lenses that somehow "split" the beam, but I can't quite figure it out. My first thought was a fixed prism, but that wouldn't explain how these devices can spread, focus and rotate the beams.

How do these laser effects usually work?

**Tags:** effects, lighting

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The question as to whether lighting questions are on topic or not [has been asked](http://meta.avp.stackexchange.com/questions/177/are-lighting-questions-on-topic), though I don't think it's been settled.  There are a number of questions tagged [lighting], though most of those have a production angle.  You're a little bit in uncharted territory here.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2012-12-11. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

The way most stage laser effects work is by using a holographic plate or diffraction grating which splits the single beam up into multiple beams.

*[image removed due to a DMCA request from copyright holder]*

These then pass to further holographic elements to provide shapes and lines, and these can then be manipulated further with lenses or mirrors.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: That's pretty cool. So it works a little bit like the [double-slit experiment](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-slit_experiment)?  
> **username_2**: Very much so - when I did my laser optics course we actually used double slit slides, but apparently now holographic plates are all the rage, and can produce from 2 to millions of individual beams!  
> **username_0**: I'll have to look into holographic plates. Might warrant a post on physics.SE, actually.  
> **username_0**: Any idea what a good search term is for finding these plates? eBay produces some [undesirable results](http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150947939673) if you search for "holographic plate".  
> **username_2**: "holograph laser elements" seems to work okay  
> **username_1**: very cool indeed :)  

---

