Side-pumped Nd:YVO/sub 4/ laser with thermal aberration correction using a diffractive optical element

Summary form only given. Unlike longitudinally pumped solid-state lasers where thermally induced distortions are often correctable by conventional optics, phase distortions in side-pumped geometries are generally much more complex and often cannot be easily corrected. Many different resonator cavity designs have been proposed to reduce specific thermally induced aberrations. Diffractive optical elements, on the other hand, provide an excellent tool for correcting arbitrary thermal aberration profiles. We have designed and implemented a side-pumped laser cavity that incorporates a single custom-made diffractive element for thermal aberration correction, resulting in single-mode operation at high pump power. The experimental arrangement is shown. A conventional stable laser cavity is formed using an HR-coated concave mirror and an 83% reflective flat output coupler.