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Recent developments in laser resonator design

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Abstract

The problems related to resonators suitable for generation of diffraction-limited beams of high power or energy, and a few of the most significant recent solutions, are reviewed. In particular, this paper is addressed to two promising resonator configurations developed mainly for Nd:YAG (yttrium aluminium garnet) lasers: dynamically stable resonators of minimum misalignment sensitivity for lasers with a strong thermal lensing in the active rod and unstable resonators with variable reflectivity output mirrors of super-Gaussian profile. For both cases experimental data and simple design guidelines are discussed.

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Magni, V., Valentini, G. & De Silvestri, S. Recent developments in laser resonator design. Opt Quant Electron 23, 1105–1134 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00619980

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