title: Observation and investigation of off-axis modes in a high-power Nd:YAG laser.
abstract: Unusual transverse patterns were observed in a cw-lamp-pumped Nd:YAG laser near the boundaries of the stability zones of the laser resonator. An interpretation of these patterns is given in terms of off-axis modes, which can be excited owing to spherical aberrations and astigmatism of the thermal lens and thermally induced birefringence. Additional evidence of the off-axis character of the observed modes was obtained by analysis of the temporal behavior of the observed patterns.
authors.affiliation: National Creative Research Initiative Center for Controlling Optical Chaos, Pai Chai University, Daejeon, 302-735, Korea.
authors.forename: Konstantin V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Volodchenko
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kurdoglyan
authors.forename: Chil-Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Gyu Ug
authors.initials: GU
authors.lastname: Kim