title: Reduction of thermal effects in a diode-end-pumped, composite Nd:YAG rod with a sapphire end.
abstract: We present what is to our knowledge the first theoretical and experimental estimation of the thermal characteristics of a composite Nd:YAG rod with an Al2O3 (sapphire) end in diode-end-pumped geometry. The peak temperature rise in the active segment is calculated to be reduced to 66% and the focal length of the thermal lens was measured to be reduced by 20% compared with a noncomposite Nd:YAG rod. By using a composite rod we successfully demonstrated the improvement of high-power performance that is due to reduction of thermally induced birefringence, which has not been observed in a composite rod with an undoped YAG end.
authors.affiliation: Biophotonics Information Laboratories, 2-2-1 Matsuei, Yamagata 990, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsunekane
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Taguchi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inaba