Abstract

The output of high average power lasers, especially solid state lasers, constists of many coherent modes, fluctuating in time and space. Easily to detect is only the time averaged intensity J(x,y) = <E(x,y) E^*(x,y)>. With knowlodge of J(x,y) alone it is not possible to predict the propagation of such beams. On the other hand for beam transportation and beam application at least the transverse beam diameter is required. In a first approach the diameter and its propagation through ABCD-optics can be calculated from the 10 second order moments of the beam But for all technical applications the power content values are of major interest, and there is no close relation to the second order moments.

© 1998 IEEE