Photothermal characterization of laser-active Yb: Glasses

Abstract
To design pulsed laser amplifiers detailed knowledge about beam distortions in the amplifying medium is needed. Time resolved probe beam deflection measurements from different laser glasses have been performed to study pump beam induced optical aberrations. By means of a wavelength tuned probe beam thermally induced variations of the optical path and beam narrowing effects due to the radial gain distribution could be distinguished. The experimental data were theoretically analyzed. Different behavior was found for two types of Yb:glass despite their similar nominative properties.