Excitation efficiency measurement in multimode solid-state lasers

Abstract

Designing solid-state laser systems for various applications is an important subject in the laser industry. Excitation efficiency and the losses of such a laser are the main parameters sought. Both parameters can be measured using a method first published by Findlay and Clay, but measurements of efficiency and losses of several laser cavities showed that the applied technique may fail sometimes. In this note a detailed investigation is reported about the measuring technique for the losses and excitation efficiency of a solid-state laser. It is shown that limitations of the model mislead, and give false results under different experimental conditions, and it is described how to overcome the difficulties outlined here.