Cavity-configuration-dependent instability in a tightly focused end-pumped solid-state laser

Abstract

We experimentally studied the cavity-configuration-dependent instability in an end-pumped Nd:YVO4 laser in the vicinity of the degenerate resonator configuration Of g(1)g(2) = 1/4 with small pump size. We found that the laser instability occurs in a narrow range of cavity tuning on each side of the degeneracy, which shows periodic, period-doubling, and chaotic time evolutions. By using Collin's integral together with rate equations and taking into account the thermal lens effect, we show that the simulation is consistent with the experiments. The observed instabilities are new and, as far as we know, this is the first report that discusses the relationship between the instability and the thermal lens effect. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.