Abstract

The geometrical optics approximation is used to form a model of axisymmetric unstable resonators having distributed focus, gain, and loss. A tapered reflectivity feedback mirror is included. The rate equations for propagation through the focusing gain medium are derived. A unique grid is found for propagation without interpolation along eigenrays in each direction. Numerical examples show the effects of distributed gain and focus on the axial and transverse intensity distributions.

© 1994 Optical Society of America

Unstable resonators with distributed saturable gain and nonuniform reflectivity outcouplers in the geometrical optics limit

Thomas R. Ferguson
Appl. Opt. 31(36) 7551-7556 (1992)

Modes of unstable resonators with a saturable gain guide

Ognian Denchev, Stoyan Kurtev, and Plamen Petrov
Appl. Opt. 40(6) 921-929 (2001)

Effects of medium and gain inhomogeneities in unstable optical resonators

C. Santana and L. B. Felsen
Appl. Opt. 16(4) 1058-1066 (1977)

Iterative Diffraction Calculations of Transverse Mode Distributions in Confocal Unstable Laser Resonators

David B. Rensch and Arthur N. Chester
Appl. Opt. 12(5) 997-1010 (1973)

Mode Calculations in Unstable Resonators with Flowing Saturable Gain. 1:Hermite-Gaussian Expansion

A. E. Siegman and Edward A. Sziklas
Appl. Opt. 13(12) 2775-2792 (1974)