The anisotropy of thermal lensing and the photo-elastic effect is characterized for diode-pumped Nd : KGd(WO 4 ) 2 crystals cut along the N p and N g optical indicatrix axes and along its optical axis, O = N g + 43°, at a laser wavelength of 1067 nm. Distortions in the spatial profile of the output laser beam are analyzed. The thermal lens is astigmatic; the orientation of its principal meridional planes, A and B , is determined by the anisotropy of photo-elastic effect. The thermal lens has opposite signs for rays lying in the principal meridional planes for N p - and O -cut crystals; it is positive for an N g -cut crystal. The increase of thermal lens optical power after absorption of 1 W of pump power, i.e. the thermal lens sensitivity factors M A ( B ) , and astigmatism degree S = | M A – M B | are determined. The photo-elastic effect was found to increase the optical power of the thermal lens and was significant for all studied crystal orientations.
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Loiko et al. (2014) studied this question.
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