Stress-induced birefringence in cw-pumped Nd:YAG rods create stability limitations on the TEM₀₀ polarized mode of a resonant cavity. We present and verify experimentally a thermo-optical model describing a ring cavity containing a birefringent cw-pumped Nd:YAG rod. We use the model, along with experimental evidence, to show that a fundamental TEM₀₀ mode size and pump-power limitation exists for any cw-pumped Nd:YAG laser, implying a maximum allowable TEM₀₀ output. We show that the largest TEM₀₀ mode radius that can be supported in the rod is approximately 1.1 mm and is independent of the physical size of the rod.

© 1996 Optical Society of America

[Optical Society of America ]

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