Abstract
A method is described for calculating the modes of strip confocal unstable resonators, using a technique that is practical and economical even at high Fresnel numbers. The present theory is based on work of Horwitz. In contrast to Horwitz’s theory, the present theory does not give divergences at the shadow boundaries. It also applies not only to bare resonators, but to resonators in which there is arbitrary, slowly varying spatial dependence of the gain. It appears straightforward to extend the present theory to apply to three-dimensional resonators with rectangular-edge mirrors. A variety of numerical results for the symmetric modes is presented graphically.
© 1977 Optical Society of America
Full Article | PDF ArticleMore Like This
Paul Horwitz
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 63(12) 1528-1543 (1973)
M. J. Smith
Appl. Opt. 20(9) 1611-1620 (1981)
Gerald T. Moore and Robert J. McCarthy
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 67(2) 221-227 (1977)