Optimal design of optically side-pumped lasers

Author

Koshel, R. John ; Walmsley, I.A.

Author_Institution

Inst. of Opt., Rochester Univ., NY, USA

Volume

33

Issue

1

fYear

1997

fDate

1/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

94

Lastpage

102

Abstract

A ray-tracing algorithm is used to determine the pump-absorption distribution, and the mode-coupling efficiencies to specific transverse modes are calculated. We develop a model for optimizing the pumping geometry for an optical side-pumped laser medium. Analytic and numerical results are given for the case of TEM₀₀ laser output arising from a few examples of Gaussian pumping. We also model the performance of a close-coupled, side-pumped configuration that is found in numerous recent high-power laser-diode-pumped solid-state lasers. A particular advantage of this system approach is that it allows characterization and selection of pump configurations before fabrication of the pump cavity

Keywords

geometry; laser cavity resonators; laser modes; laser theory; modelling; optical design techniques; optical pumping; optimisation; ray tracing; solid lasers; Gaussian pumping; TEM₀₀ laser output; close-coupled side-pumped configuration; high-power laser-diode-pumped solid-state lasers; mode-coupling efficiencies; optical side-pumped laser medium; optically side-pumped laser design optimisation; pump cavity; pump configurations; pump-absorption distribution; pumping geometry; ray-tracing algorithm; specific transverse modes; Geometrical optics; Laser excitation; Laser modes; Optical design; Optical device fabrication; Optical pumping; Pump lasers; Ray tracing; Solid lasers; Solid modeling;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.554900

Filename

554900