Physical optics modeling of intracavity thermal distortions in solid state laser resonators

Andrew Forbes; Lourens R. Botha

doi:10.1117/12.482189

4 September 2002 Physical optics modeling of intracavity thermal distortions in solid state laser resonators

Andrew Forbes, Lourens R. Botha

Proceedings Volume 4768, Novel Optical Systems Design and Optimization V; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.482189
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2002, Seattle, WA, United States

Abstract

Laser resonators are very sensitive to intra-cavity losses and instabilities. When high power extraction is required, thermal distortions introduced from pumping the active medium cause the resonator to become unstable. We model these effects, and find a closed form solution to the wavefront change, as a function of time. Using physical optics modeling methods, we show that diffractive effects are needed to explain the onset of optical damage, and derive an analytical equation that describes the compensation of the resonator instabilities in real time for damage minimization.

Citation Download Citation

Andrew Forbes and Lourens R. Botha "Physical optics modeling of intracavity thermal distortions in solid state laser resonators", Proc. SPIE 4768, Novel Optical Systems Design and Optimization V, (4 September 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.482189

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