Thermal lens characterization method of a miniaturized monolithic side-pumped DPSS high power laser

Abstract

Compact sized and reliable high-power lasers for rough environment applications are increasingly demanded by industry. Optimizing such devices requires detailed knowledge of the underlying processes of laser beam creation. Thermal lens effects occurring during cavity pumping have main influence on laser forming and beam parameters. To monitor the thermal lens impact during pump light absorption in a miniaturized, monolithic and side pumped laser cavity, we developed a Hartmann-Shack based wavefront measurement method for even very small thermal lenses (radius > 10 m). These measurements improve the monolithic laser cavity development enabling designs with higher energy densities and better energy conversion. © 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.