Optical Distortion Coefficients Of Laser Windows: One More Time

Claude A Klein

doi:10.1117/12.951352

11 July 1989 Optical Distortion Coefficients Of Laser Windows: One More Time

Claude A Klein

Proceedings Volume 1047, Mirrors and Windows for High Power/High Energy Laser Systems; (1989) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.951352
Event: OE/LASE '89, 1989, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

This paper concerns the problem of describing and evaluating thermal lensing phenomena that occur as a result of the absorption of laser light in solid windows. The aberration-function expansion method is applied for deriving the two optical distortion coefficients X+ and x_ that characterize the degradation in light intensity at the Gaussian focus of an initially diffraction-limited laser beam passing through a weakly absorbing stress-birefringent window. In a pulsed mode of operation, the concept of an effective optical distortion coefficient Xeff, which properly combines the coefficients X+ and X_ in terms of potential impact on focal irradiances, then leads to the definition of a figure of merit for distortion. The theory and the calculations presented in this and earlier papers provide simple analytical tools for predicting the optical performance of a window-material candidate in a specific system's environment.

Citation Download Citation

Claude A Klein "Optical Distortion Coefficients Of Laser Windows: One More Time", Proc. SPIE 1047, Mirrors and Windows for High Power/High Energy Laser Systems, (11 July 1989); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.951352

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