Abstract

The term, solid state lasers, has come to mean not only the rod-lamp combination but a complete machine with some defined output in space, time, and wavelength. Examples of the most important commercial systems will be presented and their performance related back to the basic limits of their component parts, primarily the laser rod and secondarily the pump source. Finally a best case analysis will be used to predict the properties of some ideal machines.

© 1976 Optical Society of America