Laser stability and beam steering in a nonregular polygonal cavity.
Two laser stability criteria or lasing conditions for cavity geometry based on the standard ABCD matrix analysis and the Bilger and Stedman analysis [Appl. Opt. 26, 3710 (1987)] are reconciled. Beam steering from mirror misalignment is discussed similarly, generalizing the Bilger and Stedman analysis to nonregular polygons by extending the standard ABCD matrix analysis to 3 x 3 matrices, which facilitates the thorough design of large rectangular ring lasers and is applied to a number of existing or planned ring lasers with perimeters of 77-120 m.
Currie
Bryn E
BE
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Stedman
Geoffrey E
GE
Dunn
Robert W
RW