title: Modeling gain-medium diffraction in super-Gaussian coupled unstable laser cavities.
abstract: The diffractive effects of a single laser rod in an unstable super-Gaussian coupled cavity are modeled for a range of cavity configurations, with an intracavity, zero-thickness aperture. After fundamental mode propagation through a maximally flat output coupler, beam quality (M2) and far-field power loss values are related. Beam quality is most sensitive to cavity magnification and aperture Fresnel number, both correlated to the aperture-equivalent Fresnel number. In contrast, variation of M2 with aperture position is sufficiently conservative to predict the intensity profile of a solid-state laser with a typical gain length, in good agreement with experimental data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, San Jose State University, One Washington Square, San Jose, California 95192, USA. paulannkennedy@netscape.net
authors.forename: Ann W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Bolton
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bowers