title: Distributed aperture effect in laser rods with negative lenses.
abstract: Negative lenses have been ground on the ends of laser rods to increase the TEM(00) mode volume. With the negative lenses on the ends, the laser rod acts like a distributed aperture. The distributed aperture radius and its effect on the useful volume of the laser rod are calculated. The mode radius and the diffraction loss for a laser rod with negative lenses ground on the ends are presented as a function of laser rod focal length and the Fresnel number.
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Scalise