Given laser output formation: adaptive optics approach--theory and experiment

Abstract

Diffraction analysis of the formation of low losses, large beam width and high far-field intensity peak value of the given super-gaussian fundamental modes by means of intracavity controlled mirror is presented. Such mirror is a water-cooled bimorph flexible one having four controlling electrodes. Analysis has confirmed the possibility to form various intensity distribution inside laser cavity and at the output of the stable resonators of industrial CW CO<SUB>2</SUB> and YAG:Nd<SUP>3+</SUP> lasers. Distortions of the given intensity distributions caused by thermal deformations of the resonator mirrors is taken into account. It is shown the possibility to compensate partially for such distortions with the help of the intracavity controlled mirror. Experimental formation of the super-gaussian fundamental modes of the 4th and 6th orders of the industrial CW CO<SUB>2</SUB>-laser with stable resonator by means of the intracavity flexible mirror is shown. The increase of power of the formed fundamental modes up to 10% and the enlarging of the peak intensity in the far-field zone in 1.6 times in the comparison with the traditional gaussian TEM<SUB>00</SUB> mode of the same resonator are observed.