Beam divergence

Beam divergence refers to the way a laser or light beam slightly spreads out as it travels away from its source. Imagine shining a flashlight: the light is most concentrated at the start, but as it reaches farther distances, it spreads out, becoming less focused. This spreading is measured in degrees or milliradians and affects how precisely the beam can target or maintain intensity over long distances. Less divergence means the beam stays narrower and more focused, ideal for applications requiring high precision, whereas larger divergence results in a wider, more dispersed beam.