Optical distortion in end-pumped solid-state rod lasers

Area of Science:

• Laser Physics
• Optical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Thermo-optical effects are critical in high-power laser systems.
• Understanding thermal distortions is key to laser performance and reliability.
• End-pumped rod lasers are widely used but susceptible to thermal lensing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate thermo-optical issues in mode-matched end-pumped lasers.
• To develop scaling relations for optical distortions and thermal stress limits.
• To analyze the impact of super-Gaussian pump profiles on laser performance.

Main Methods:

• Combined analytical and numerical methods.
• Extraction of practical scaling relations.
• Characterization of thermally induced optical distortions.
• Assessment of thermal-stress operating limits.

Main Results:

• Thermally induced spherical aberration is overcorrected and depends strongly on super-Gaussian order.
• Aberration-free operation is achievable for high-order radial profiles.
• Scaling relations for optical distortions and thermal stress limits were derived.
• Cavity stability was analyzed for a cavity length equal to the rod length.

Conclusions:

• Super-Gaussian pump profiles offer a method to control spherical aberration in end-pumped lasers.
• High-order super-Gaussian profiles can lead to significant aberration-free beam portions.
• The study provides essential data for designing robust and efficient laser systems.