Aberrations induced by anti-ASE cap on thin-disk active element

Abstract

Optical aberrations induced in thin-disk laser elements with an undoped layer, performing as an anti-ASE cap, are analyzed. A numerical model, used for calculations of the optical path difference (OPD) induced by temperature distribution inside the laser element and by deformation of surfaces, was confirmed experimentally. Results of numerical modeling manifest that adding an undoped layer on the thin-disk has detrimental effect on the reflected laser beam brightness and scaling. It is also shown that brightness of a thin-disk laser may be enhanced by the use of the Gaussian pump beam profile.