THERMAL EFFECTS AND TRANSVERSE MODE CONTROL IN A Nd:YAG LASER

Abstract

By compensating for the thermal lens effect in a Nd:YAG rod, we have substantially increased the fundamental transverse mode CW power available from the laser. To date, we have obtained over 1.4 W in the TEM₀₀ mode, compared to about 200–300 mW without compensation. The ratio of TEM₀₀ mode power to multimode power is dependent on the pump power, and appears to be related to thermal lens aberrations which occur through the photoelastic effect in the rod. The results of an analysis of the thermal focusing effect in YAG are also included.