Laser initiation and beam quality evolution in a confocal unstable resonator, short-pulse-duration laser

The subjects of laser initiation and beam quality evolution in short-pulse-duration systems that employ confocal unstable resonators motivated this work. Experimentation and analysis of the performance of a laser-pumped, organic dye laser are presented. Combined results indicate that a saturation flux arises through a coalescence of stabilized, diverging-mode components of the initially emitted fluorescence. The ABCD law method was used to devise calculational techniques that clearly demonstrate the particular mechanisms responsible for rapid mode stabilization, subsequent beam quality development, and laser initiation.