Gaussian Beam Laser Resonator Program
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Foundation ::
Laser Applications ::
Gaussian Beam Laser Resonator Program
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Gaussian Beam Laser Resonator Program
Models laser resonators using Gaussian ray trace techniques
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Moderators:
Adopt This Application!
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SOURCE CODE AVAILABLE
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In designing a laser cavity, the laser engineer is frequently concerned
with more than the stability of the resonator. Other considerations
include the size of the beam at various optical surfaces within the resonator
or the performance of intracavity line-narrowing or other optical
elements. Laser resonators obey the laws of Gaussian beam propagation, not
geometric optics. The Gaussian Beam Laser Resonator Program models laser
resonators using Gaussian ray trace techniques. It can be used to determine
the propagation of radiation through laser resonators.
The algorithm used in the Gaussian Beam Resonator program has three major
components. First, the ray transfer matrix for the laser resonator must
be calculated. Next calculations of the initial beam parameters, specifically,
the beam stability, the beam waist size and location for the resonator
input element, and the wavefront curvature and beam radius at the
input surface to the first resonator element are performed.
Finally the
propagation of the beam through the optical elements is computed. The optical
elements can be modeled as parallel plates, lenses, mirrors, dummy surfaces,
or Gradient Index (GRIN) lenses. A Gradient Index lens is a good approximation
of a laser rod operating under a thermal load. The optical system
may contain up to 50 elements. In addition to the internal beam elements
the optical system may contain elements external to the resonator.
Gaussian Beam Laser Resonator Program carries the NASA case number LAR-14080. It was originally released as part of the NASA COSMIC collection.
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