SMALL-SCALE PERIODIC INHOMOGENEITIES AND SELF-COMPENSATION OF PHASE DISTORTIONS

Using the approach of geometric optics, we analytically investigate se lf-compensation of phase distortions in the wave front of laser radiat ion in active media with small-scale periodic optical inhomogeneities for continuous-wave chemical lasers with planar and cylindrical nozzle units. We determine conditions for self-compensation in the case when the periodic structure of the nozzle array is tilted with respect to the direction of the laser beam and in the case when slits in the nozz le array divided into several sections are subject to a parallel shift .