Solid-state laser with a high average output power and compensation of theoptical inhomogeneities of the active medium

The energy characteristics and the spatial distributions of the radiation g enerated in the free-running lasing regime were investigated for a configur ation (proposed previously by the authors) with compensation of the optical inhomogeneities in the active media of powerful solid-state lasers, Slab a ctive elements made of Nd3+:KGd(WO4)(2) and Nd3+:NaLa(MoO4), crystals were used. A uniform transverse intensity distribution in an output beam (37 mm x 8 mm in cross section) and a nearly limiting angular divergence were achi eved for a pulse energy in excess of 60 J, a repetition rate up to 2 Hz, an d a slope efficiency of 2.5%.