cff-version: 1.2.0
type: software
message: If you use this software, please cite it as below.
title: "laserbeamsize: ISO 11146 Calculation of Laser Beam Center, Diameter, and M\xB2"
version: 2.4.0
doi: 10.5281/zenodo.8346799
date-released: '2026-03-16'
url: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8346799
repository-code: https://github.com/scottprahl/laserbeamsize
license: MIT
authors:
- family-names: Prahl
  given-names: Scott
  orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1468-6851
abstract: "laserbeamsize is a Python library for analyzing laser beam quality according\
  \ to the ISO 11146 standard. It provides tools for calculating beam center, diameter,\
  \ divergence, and M\xB2 parameter from beam profile images. The package implements\
  \ variance-based beam size calculations, background noise handling, and beam propagation\
  \ analysis for TEM00 and higher-order modes. It is intended for education, research,\
  \ and engineering applications in laser metrology and beam characterization."
keywords:
- variance
- gaussian
- M-squared
- d4sigma
- M2
- "M\xB2"
- spotsize
- laser beam
- ISO11146
- divergence
- beam waist
- TEM00
- beam diameter
- beam parameter product
- BPP
- laser propagation
- beam profiling
- beam optics
- beam measurement
- laser metrology
- beam quality
- beam analysis
preferred-citation:
  type: software
  title: "laserbeamsize: ISO 11146 Calculation of Laser Beam Center, Diameter, and\
    \ M\xB2"
  year: 2026
  version: 2.4.0
  doi: 10.5281/zenodo.8346799
  url: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8346799
  authors:
  - family-names: Prahl
    given-names: Scott
    orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1468-6851
