Abstract

Optical resonators using graded-phase mirrors are analyzed with the help of the generalized ABCD propagation law for a real optical beam. This analysis gives the second-order moment gross characteristics of the eigenmode and indicates a design procedure. An example of a super-Gaussian output beam shows that this type of optical resonator might have large transverse-mode discrimination that could provide operation in a large fundamental-mode beamwidth.

© 1991 Optical Society of America

Super-Gaussian output from a CO₂ laser by using a graded-phase mirror resonator

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