Laser And Laser Related Characteristics Of Nd:BEL

W. R. Rapoport; T. Chin

doi:10.1117/12.951162

6 July 1989 Laser And Laser Related Characteristics Of Nd:BEL

W. R. Rapoport, T. Chin

Proceedings Volume 1040, High Power and Solid State Lasers II; (1989) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.951162
Event: OE/LASE '89, 1989, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

A variety of different axis cuts of Nd:BEL were investigated in both rod and straight through slab form. Using two cw diode pumped Nd:BEL lasers operating at 1.070 and 1.079 μm, the small signal gain was measured. This measurement was done for X, Y, Z, and athermal rods for both polarizations. The same procedure was done for Nd:YAG and Nd:Cr:GSGG for comparison tests. Using spectroscopic data for all materials, the stored energy was calculated as well as the pumping efficiency. Efficient, high quality beam, operation of the laser also requires prior knowledge of the thermal distortions induced by the flashlamp pumping. This information was obtained by operating the pump chamber in one arm of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer at flashlamp powers up to 600 watts at 20 Hz. This procedure can show a large degree of non-isotropic lensing and wedging. In order to help deconvolve the pump induced wedge terms, the rods were also rotated 90°. These measurements were made for both polarizations showing strong polarization dependent thermal distortion for Nd:BEL. Moire' deflectometry was also used to characterize the lensing. These results will be compared to the pumped interferometry. Knowledge of the thermal distortion profiles can lead to the design of straight through slabs with low thermal lensing terms. Long Pulse and Q-switched laser tests were conducted for the different axis rods and compared to Nd:YAG and Nd:Cr:GSGG in the identical optical arrangement. These results confirm the higher storage of Nd:BEL compared to Nd:YAG.

Citation Download Citation

W. R. Rapoport and T. Chin "Laser And Laser Related Characteristics Of Nd:BEL", Proc. SPIE 1040, High Power and Solid State Lasers II, (6 July 1989); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.951162

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