Numerical simulation of a high-average-power diode-pumped ytterbium-doped YAG laser with an unstable cavity and a super-Gaussian mirror.

A numerical technique with which to compute the output characteristics of a solid-state laser with an unstable cavity and a super-Gaussian coupling mirror is proposed. This technique is applied to an Yb:YAG actively Q-switched laser. With this formalism, the mode formation for the fundamental mode is analyzed and the performance achievable by such a laser for various cavity parameters is determined. Then the results obtained with such a cavity are compared with those given for a stable cavity with graded phase output mirror that is also used for obtaining super-Gaussian mode.