Abstract

The physical phenomena that dominate the power characteristics of a laser depend on the detailed nature of the amplifying medium and the resonator structure. In predicting the power characteristics, numerous approximations are always required. The most important approximations are considered here in detail, and error estimates are presented so that a designer can select the appropriate model for a particular application. Emphasis is placed on analytic solutions and specific phenomena considered include longitudinal and transverse spatial hole burning, large single-pass gain, and mixed line broadening.

© 1980 Optical Society of America

Wave-optical modeling of high-power pulsed CO₂ lasers

P. W. Milonni
Appl. Opt. 19(15) 2560-2564 (1980)

Average power limitations in high-repetition-rate pulsed gas lasers at 10.6 and 16 μm

V. Yu. Baranov, S. A. Kazsakov, D. D. Malyuta, V. S. Mezhevov, A. P. Napartovich, V. G. Nisiev, M. Yu. Orlov, A. I. Starodubtsev, and A. N. Starostin
Appl. Opt. 19(6) 930-936 (1980)

Off-resonance dispersion profile effect in gas laser resonators

Jean-Paul Taché
Appl. Opt. 19(24) 4214-4221 (1980)

Systematic errors in laser gain, saturation irradiance, and cavity loss measurements and comparison with a HCN laser

Steven J. Cooper
Appl. Opt. 38(15) 3258-3265 (1999)

Gaussian modes of resonators containing saturable gain medium

Amos Hardy
Appl. Opt. 19(22) 3830-3836 (1980)