Abstract

A wave optics simulation based on fast Fourier transform (FFT) provides a valuable tool to calculate exact beam patterns of laser systems.^1,2 However most wave optics simulation codes have been programmed assuming a linear polarization beam and cannot handle a polarization-sensitive optical element such as a strongly pumped solid- state laser rod. We report the development of a wave optics simulation that can handle polarization-sensitive optical elements and using this simulation we predict that high power 1,2-times-diffraction-limited (TDL) beams can be generated not affected by thermally induced depolarized bifocal lens of a strongly pumped solid-state rod using an unstable resonator.

© 1994 Optical Society of America