Abstract

Dielectric graded reflectance mirrors (GRMs) with a gaussian or supergaussian radial variation of the reflectance are known to reduce significantly the detrimental effects of hard edge diffraction in unstable laser resonators. Different types of GRMs consisting of a single graded thickness layer incorporated in a conventional multilayer system have been demonstrated. Such mirrors are beginning to be offered, in moderate reflectances, by major manufacturers for use in high gain lasers.

© 1992 Optical Society of America