Effect of the phase response of a graded-reflectivity output mirror on thecharacteristics of laser modes in a plane-parallel resonator

The properties of plane-parallel laser resonators with graded-reflectivity multilayer dielectric mirrors are studied. The use of a Fabry-Perot resonat or with a graded-reflectivity mirror, whose phase response in the near-axis region is described by a convex function of the transverse coordinate, is shown to increase at least by 70% the efficiency of utilization of the ener gy stored in the active medium by the fundamental laser mode, while retaini ng its diffraction losses at a minimum level. (C) 2000 The Optical Society of America. [S1070-9762(00)00501-7].