Abstract

Observations of the light intensity variations across the partially transmitting face of a laser crystal operated near threshold are reported. The intensity variation patterns are suggestive of the modes of a cylindrical microwave cavity and are believed to be closely related to the transverse modes of the optical resonator. Preliminary polarization studies indicated that patterns with only a twofold symmetry axis are linearly polarized, whereas others are unpolarized. The pattern sizes range between approximately 170 and 850 μ. The divergence of the emerging beam (several milliradians) decreased with increasing resonator length. Fabry-Perot analysis showed only one excited longitudinal mode for a 1-cm long resonator, but the number increased with the resonator length.

© 1962 Optical Society of America

Mode Control in Ruby Optical Masers by Means of Elastic Deformation

Morley S. Lipsett and M. W. P. Strandberg
Appl. Opt. 1(3) 343-357 (1962)

Gaseous Optical Masers

W. R. Bennett
Appl. Opt. 1(S1) 24-61 (1962)

Relationship between the Near Field Characteristics of a Ruby Laser and Its Optical Quality

Michael Hercher
Appl. Opt. 1(5) 665-670 (1962)

A Study of Transverse Modes of Ruby Lasers Using Beat-Frequency Detection and Fast Photography

C. Martin Stickley
Appl. Opt. 3(8) 967-979 (1964)

High-Speed Sequence Photography of a Ruby Laser

E. S. Dayhoff and B. Kessler
Appl. Opt. 1(3) 339-341 (1962)