Laser beam characterization in uniaxial crystals

Gabriella Cincotti; Alessandro Ciattoni; Damiano Provenziani; Claudio Palma; Horst Weber

doi:10.1117/12.472002

30 May 2003 Laser beam characterization in uniaxial crystals

Gabriella Cincotti, Alessandro Ciattoni, Damiano Provenziani, Claudio Palma, Horst Weber

Proceedings Volume 4932, Laser-Induced Damage in Optical Materials: 2002 and 7th International Workshop on Laser Beam and Optics Characterization; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.472002
Event: XXXIV Annual Symposium on Optical Materials for High Power Lasers: Boulder Damage Symposium, 2002, Boulder, CO, United States

Abstract

We give a full characterization of laser modes propagating along the optical axis of an unbounded uniaxially anisotropic crystal, evaluating the analytical expressions of the beam parameters and putting the combined effects of diffraction and anisotropy into evidence. We consider a HG mode of any order E_x, linearly polarized along the x-axis at the entrance facet of the crystal, and we derive the spot-size evolution formula and the corresponding angular divergences: due to anisotropy, the beam parameters evaluated along the x- and y-axes have different expressions. The optical beam suffers a change of the polarization state, and a y-component of the electric field E_y arises from anisotropy: we evaluate the spot-sizes along the x- and y-axes, and the associated angular divergences. The mutual coupling between the Cartesian components of the field results in a reduction of the energy associated to E_x and a corresponding increase of the optical power associated to Ey: we calculate the analytical expression of the energy exchange between the Cartesian components of the optical beam and their asymptotic values. The analytical results are confirmed by a set of experimental measurements with a calcite crystal.

Citation Download Citation

Gabriella Cincotti, Alessandro Ciattoni, Damiano Provenziani, Claudio Palma, and Horst Weber "Laser beam characterization in uniaxial crystals", Proc. SPIE 4932, Laser-Induced Damage in Optical Materials: 2002 and 7th International Workshop on Laser Beam and Optics Characterization, (30 May 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.472002

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available