Analytical model of thermal effect and optical path difference in end-pumped Yb:YAG thin disk laser

An analytical model of the thermal effect and optical path difference (OPD) of a thin disk laser is developed with the combination of the analytical method and commercial finite element analysis software. The distributions of temperature, stress, strain, and OPD caused by temperature gradient, axial thermal strain (bulging), thermal strain-induced birefringence, and deformation are obtained. Based on the analytical model, the production mechanisms, features, and influence of OPD in an end-pumped thin disk laser are discussed, which make the causes of spherical and aspherical parts of the OPD more obvious. Furthermore, the OPD including the spherical and aspherical parts of the thin disk crystal is discussed for various pumping intensities. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America