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Electronic and thermal lensing in diode end-pumped Yb:YAG laser rods and discs

O. L. Antipov, E. A. Anashkina, K. A. Fedorova

Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nizhny Novgorod

Abstract: The lensing effects in diode end-pumped Yb:YAG laser rods and discs are studied. Two mechanisms of refractive-index changes are taken into account, thermal and electronic (due to the difference between the excited- and ground-state Yb³⁺ polarisabilities), as well as pump-induced deformation of the laser crystal. Under pulsed pumping, the electronic lensing effect prevails over the thermal one in both rods and discs. In rods pumped by a highly focused cw beam, the dioptric power of the electronic lens exceeds that of the thermal lens, whereas in discs steady-state lensing is predominantly due to the thermal mechanism.

PACS: 42.55.Xi, 42.55.Rz, 42.65.An, 78.20.Nv

Received: 25.05.2009
Revised: 03.08.2009

 English version: Quantum Electronics, 2009, 39:12, 1131–1136

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