Thermal stress analysis of a Nd:YVO4 laser medium end pumped by a Gaussian beam

The heat conduction and the thermal stress problems in an orthotropic Nd:YVO4 laser medium end pumped by a Gaussian beam are modeled and analytically solved. The three-dimensional temperature expression is derived via an integral transform method, and the thermal stress field is deduced by Airy’s thermal stress function method, utilizing said three-dimensional temperature expression, based on the plain-strain assumption. The results indicate that the orthotropic thermal properties have significant influence on the thermal strain pattern, but have less effect on the thermal stress profile in the absence of external forces.