title: Mode properties of an external-cavity laser with Gaussian gain.
abstract: We analyze the mode properties of a laser with a Gaussian gain profile by using the beam propagation method. The resonance properties of the Petermann K factor and the M2 beam quality are shown to be related in the vicinity of degenerate cavity geometries. K is unity for a confocal cavity, even under conditions with strong gain guiding, while M2 is a maximum.
authors.affiliation: Laser and Optics Research Center, Department of Physics, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado 80840, USA. carl.maes@usafa.af.mil
authors.forename: Carl F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.forename: Ewan M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Wright