Abstract

Ring laser resonators offer many advantages over standing-wave linear resonators, namely, reduced alignment sensitivity, design flexibility, elimination of input feedback, reduced backreflection, and single pass operation in intracavity elements.^1,2 One of the most important advantages of the ring resonator is the possibility of obtaining unidirectional oscillation, thus minimizing spatial hole burning which limits pump energy loading of laser rods in single-longitudinal-mode operation.

© 1990 Optical Society of America