How the orientation of the axes of an anisotropic KGW:Nd3+ crystal in the illuminator of a laser with self-cooling affects its maximum operating life with high pulse-repetition rates of the radiation

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an investigation of the limiting operating regimes of a KGW:Nd3+ periodic-action laser with self-cooling. This showed that the operating life of a laser with large pulse-repetition rates of the radiation can be substantially increased by mounting the active element in the illuminator in such a way that the direction of the maximum temperature gradient in the anisotropic crystal that causes thermal wedge deformation in it corresponds to the minimum thermooptical constant. © 2004 Optical Society of America