Influence of quadratic pump power distribution on hole burning in neodymium lasers

The influence of quadratic pump power distribution on transverse spatial hole burning in homogeneously broadened lasers is analyzed. The optimum relationship between pump size and mode size is given. Theoretical and experimental results are compared for neodymium lasers with helical xenon lamp pumping. From the excellent agreement between theory and experiment we can conclude that the pump intensity radial distribution near axis is close to the quadratic law. The experimental quadratic term is measured. Laser performance as a function of the optical cavity parameters is analyzed.