Abstract

A temperature distribution model for solid-state laser rods has been developed. A modification was made to consider the possibility of a source with a time-dependent pulse profile. Uneven heating of a laser rod may result in a distortion or defocusing of the laser beam. The temperature distribution model based on an eigenfunction expansion scheme was used in estimating thermal lensing in laser rods.¹ An analysis was performed, and data will be presented for temperature distribution and thermal lensing in end-pumped rods. The rods were considered to be pumped by a series of pulses with Gaussian time profiles.

© 1992 Optical Society of America