On thermal effects in solid state lasers: the case of ytterbium-doped materials

By S. Chénais, F. Druon, S. Forget, F. Balembois, P. Georges. 2007

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Abstract A review of theoretical and experimental studies of thermal effects in solid-state lasers is presented, with a special focus on diode-pumped ytterbium-doped materials. A large part of this review provides however general information applicable to any kind of solid-state laser. Our aim here is not to make a list of the techniques that have been used to minimize thermal effects, but instead to give an overview of the theoretical aspects underneath, and give a state-of-the-art of the tools at the disposal of the laser scientist to measure thermal effects. After a presentation of some general properties of Yb-doped materials ( Section 1 ), we address the issue of evaluating the temperature map in Yb-doped laser crystals, both theoretically and experimentally ( Section 2 ). This is the first step before studying the complex problem of thermal lensing ( Section 3 ). We will focus on some newly discussed aspects, like the definition of the thermo-optic coefficient: we will highlight some misleading interpretations of thermal lensing experiments due to the use of the dn/dT parameter in a context where it is not relevant. Section 4 will be devoted to a state-of-the-art of experimental techniques used to measure thermal lensing. Eventually, in Section 5 , we will give some concrete examples in Yb-doped materials, where their peculiarities will be pointed out.

Subfields: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/25ac832e4f110ab4602c0b77397e94a759f895d1