Thermal effects in a coplanar-pumped folded-zigzag slab laser

The properties of a coplanar-pumped folded-slab laser under the influence of thermal lensing have been modeled and measured. It is shown that despite the formation of a strong astigmatic lens within the slab, the results can be used to design resonators capable of good TEM/sub 00/ performance, suitable for a wide variety of applications. Good agreement is found between modeling and measurement of slab and laser parameters. Using a novel technique, the fraction of absorbed pump power converted to heat has been measured under diode-laser pumping.