Active laser resonators - computer simulation and practical realization

Summary form only given. The given laser intensity distribution could be formed by different methods - both extracavity and intracavity. The main advantage of the intracavity method is not only the possibility to form the desirable intensity structure but to increase the total power of the laser radiation. One of the well-known approach is to apply graded reflectivity mirrors. But such mirrors introduce sufficient intrinsic power losses and can be used only in lasers with large gain of active medium (mostly with unstable resonators). It was suggested then to extend the same fabrication technology for making graded-phase mirrors which can be used in stable laser cavities for the given intensity output formation. However the main drawback of such mirrors is the rigidity of their surface profile, so every change of laser parameters needs the special mirror to be made and applied. For the purpose of formation of a specified laser output we used an intracavity flexible mirror composed of a semipassive bimorph element, made in IPLIT Russian Academy of Sciences.