Wavefront aberration analysis in misalignment passive positive-branch unstable laser resonators

Abstract

Eigenmode of resonators with asymmetric circular mirrors based on misalignment passive positive-branch unstable resonator is investigated in the paper. To do so, we use iterative algorithm to simulate the effect of intracavity phase perturbation on eigenmode structure properties of the passive confocal unstable resonator. On this basis, further experiment of output beam properties on a misaligned passive unstable laser resonator has been performed by adopting Hartmann–Shack (H–S) method and Zernike modal wavefront reconstruction. Wavefront distribution and the first 35-order Zernike coefficient included in the wavefront are obtained. The results show that intracavity tilt perturbation notablely affects outcoupled beam intensity distribution, and will also increase some high-order aberrations of beam phase properties. However, low-order Zernike tilt aberration is the main component with phase-tilted perturbation is introduced into resonator cavity. Defocus, low-order astigmatism and coma aberration will all be brought with the augument of phase tilt aberration, which will obviously degrade output beam quality. When intracavity compensating elements are adopted for optical aberration correction, the correction of tilt aberration should be considered first.