Cavity modes in diode-array end-pumped planar lasers with aberrated thermal lenses

The effects of an aberrated thermal lens on the cavity mode profile and on diffraction losses are investigated numerically for end-pumped solid-state lasers. Planar crystals are considered because they naturally compliment th e line-like beam output from diode arrays in addition to offering good ther mal management. The aberrations result in a non-Gaussian cavity mode that i s significantly broader and thus can cause an increase in the cavity losses . Planar laser geometries can give excellent beam quality. This is a strong function of the degree of the thermal lensing. Thermal lensing must be use d to control the overall resonator stability and mode size but diffraction effects, in addition, shape the mode strongly so as to give surprisingly go od beam quality for a particular range of thermal lenses. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.