Characterization of a distortion-corrected Nd : YAG laser with a self-conjugating loop geometry

A detailed experimental and theoretical characterization of a self-adaptive solid-state laser is presented. The system uses a saturable gain medium (N d:YAC amplifier) as the adaptive element in an externally injected self-int ersecting loop geometry, We demonstrate energy output >300 mJ, high energy reflectivity >10(4), low input energy threshold of similar to 5 mu J, and p hase-conjugate properties of the system that compensate for both intracavit y and extracavity phase distortions. The spatial output beam size is compar ed to a Gaussian mode analysis based on ABCD ray transfer matrices, The tem poral, spectral, energy, and threshold characteristics are compared to one- dimensional analytical and transient numerical simulations.