Thermal lens determination of the temperature coefficient of optical path length in optical materials

In this work thermal lens spectrometry is applied to determine the temperature coefficient of optical path length in several optical materials. Polymer, fluoride and low silica calcium aluminosilicate glasses and YAG, YVO4, YLF, LiSAF, and LiSGaF crystals were analyzed. The results showed the ability of the thermal lens method to obtain the absolute values of this so important optical parameter, which is crucial for those who work in the designing of solid state laser cavity. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.