Effects of including a diffraction term into Rigrod theory for a continuous-wave laser

Area of Science:

• Optical Engineering
• Laser Physics

Background:

• Continuous-wave lasers often utilize intracavity apertures, which can introduce diffractive losses within the optical resonator.
• Low-gain laser systems, particularly those with short gain lengths, necessitate highly reflective mirrors to achieve laser oscillation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To modify the Rigrod theory to account for diffractive losses caused by intracavity apertures.
• To evaluate the significance of these diffractive losses in low-gain laser systems.

Main Methods:

• Adapted the established Rigrod theory by incorporating a specific term for diffractive loss.
• Compared the modified theoretical predictions with experimental data from low-gain laser systems.

Main Results:

• The modified Rigrod theory accurately predicts laser behavior when diffractive losses are considered.
• Intracavity diffractive losses, though minor, demonstrably influence the performance of low-gain lasers with high mirror reflectivity.

Conclusions:

• Diffractive losses from intracavity apertures are a critical factor in the design and analysis of low-gain continuous-wave lasers.
• The modified Rigrod theory provides a more comprehensive understanding of laser dynamics under these specific conditions.