Abstract

Recently, the self-starting Nd:YAG laser oscillator with cavity completed by the dynamic holographic grating has demonstrated the capability of generating optical beams with high average power and good quality [1]. The nonlinear mirror provided self-adaptation of the cavity to strong thermal aberrations inside the laser crystal. On the other hand, the dynamics of the self-starting laser oscillator appeared to be very complicated. In this report we present new results of our experimental and theoretical investigation of the lasers with cavity completed by holographic gratings induced in different nonlinear media: laser crystal, dye-based saturable absorber, or polymer with fast electron nonlinearity.

© 2001 EPS