Unstable--stable resonators with toroidal mirrors

Journal Article · Thu Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Appl. Opt.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.20.003547· OSTI ID:5885873

Borghese, A; Canevari, R; Donati, V; Garifo, L

A resonator with toroidal mirrors is described. This resonator behaves like an off-axis unstable confocal resonator in one transverse dimension and like an on-axis concave--convex stable resonator in the other orthogonal dimension. Some experimental results are reported for a fast flow high power cw-CO/sub 2/ laser whose transverse cross section is restricted in the stable-resonator direction. These cavities allow an output laser beam with a fully illuminated cross section which is well suited for focusing. Moreover, the fraction of the available laser power which may be concentrated in the central lobe of the focal plane intensity distribution is 2.5--4.5 times higher than other unstable resonators with similarly restricted modal volumes. Finally the alignment requirements are examined.

• Research Organization: CISE Spa, P.O. Box 12081, 20100 Milano, Italy
• OSTI ID: 5885873
• Journal Information: Appl. Opt.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Opt.; (United States) Vol. 20:20; ISSN APOPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
ALIGNMENT
ANNULAR SPACE
CARBON DIOXIDE LASERS
CAVITY RESONATORS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CONFIGURATION
DESIGN
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FOCUSING
GAS LASERS
LASERS
OPTICAL REFLECTION
PERFORMANCE
REFLECTION
RESONATORS
SPACE
STABILITY
TOROIDAL CONFIGURATION