Abstract

We report the experimental characterization and modeling of thermal lensing in Cr²⁺:ZnSe face-cooled laser disks using the phase shift interferometry technique. The thermal lens powers of the 1-mm and 0.5-mm thick disks were strong (37 and 19 diopters at 5 W pumping); the thermal lens power scaled with disk thickness and pump power; and temperatures were reached in the disks at which nonradiative relaxation is significant.

© 2003 Optical Society of America