Optimum design on thermal lensing effect of high-repetition-frequency laser based on LGS Q-switched

Abstract

The thermal lensing effect of crystal is the biggest problem for the output of laser pulse with high power and high beam quality. Through the design of laser cavity, this effect can be removed a certain extent. In this paper, a high-repetition-frequency laser based on electro-optic Q-switch made of LGS is designed. Using flat-flat cavity, the purposes of simple structure and steady output are achieved. Firstly, using a LGS as Q-switched crystal, a Brewster plate as a polarizer, a xenon flash-lamp pumped 1064 nm high-repetition-frequency pulsed Nd:YAG laser with flat-flat cavity is demonstrated. Then, the stability of the laser cavity is analysed. Considering the thermal lensing effect of Nd:YAG crystal, the focal length of thermal lens is calculated. Utilizing MathCAD, the ABCD matrix of laser cavity is calculated, and the G value is obtained, that is G=0.792<1, so the laser cavity is steady. Furthermore, the distribution of light beam in the laser cavity is also simulated by using LAS-CAD, the results indicate that the laser works at stead state. Thirdly, the thermal lensing effect of Nd:YAG crystal is analysed by using LAS-CAD. The temperature and refractive index distributions of Nd:YAG crystal are simulated, the results show that the crystal can be equivalented as a lens with certain focal length. Furthermore, utilizing finite element analysis (FEA) method, the three-dimensional view of temperature field is obtained.