Experimental studies of transient, thermal depolarization in a Nd:glass laser rod

Temporal studies of depolarization loss in a thermally strained, pulsed, Nd:glass laser system are reported. The probe beam consisted of a 70-mJ-20-ns, TEM(00), Nd:glass laser oscillator pulse. It was observed that, in all the cases of input pump energy density ø, the peak of the profile of depolarization loss is separated from the peak of population inversion by approximately 150 micros. The peak values of gain and depolarization loss showed a dependence of ø(5/3) and ø(2), respectively. Theoretical prediction of saturation of depolarization loss, at high input pump energy density, was found to be in agreement with the experimental observation.