Aberrations induced by anti-ASE cap on thin-disk active element.

Area of Science:

• Laser physics and optics
• Materials science for optical components

Background:

• Thin-disk lasers are crucial for high-power applications.
• Anti-amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) caps are used to improve laser efficiency.
• Optical aberrations can degrade laser performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze optical aberrations in thin-disk laser elements with an anti-ASE cap.
• To investigate the impact of an undoped layer on laser beam quality.
• To explore methods for enhancing thin-disk laser brightness.

Main Methods:

• Numerical modeling of optical path difference (OPD) due to thermal and deformation effects.
• Experimental validation of the numerical model.
• Analysis of beam brightness and scaling under different conditions.

Main Results:

• The undoped anti-ASE cap induces optical aberrations, increasing OPD.
• Numerical and experimental results confirm the detrimental effect of the undoped layer on beam brightness and scaling.
• A Gaussian pump beam profile shows potential for improving laser brightness.

Conclusions:

• The inclusion of an undoped layer in thin-disk lasers introduces aberrations that reduce beam quality.
• Laser design must account for thermal and deformation-induced optical path differences.
• Utilizing a Gaussian pump profile is a promising strategy for enhancing thin-disk laser brightness and scalability.