EXPERIMENTAL AND THEORETICAL INVESTIGATION OF STATISTICAL FLUCTUATIONS IN-PHASE CONJUGATE MIRROR REFLECTIVITY

Shot-to-shot stability of liquid based phase conjugate mirrors was stu died experimentally and theoretically in order to define stable operat ing regimes when incorporated into pulsed laser systems. Reflectivity over five orders of magnitude was measured and the standard deviations were analyzed. A general dependence between standard deviation and re flectivity was found to occur. Good stability (+/-2%) was achieved at reflectivities of 80% when the input laser energy was 5 to 10 times la rger than threshold.