Static and dynamic behavior of a single-mode Nd-YAG laser

The static and dynamic behavior of a single-mode 4-level solid-state laser has been studied both theoretically and experimentally. In the theoretical section, the usual rate equations are modified in order to take into account the spatial variation of the inverted population due to the cavity field. These theoretical results have been verified with the help of a CW Nd-YAG laser. The experimental results on the output power and on the transient behavior are in good agreement with the theory within the accuracy of the experimental results (∼ 15 percent).