Thin disc lasers

In this study, the theory and progress of the thin disc lasers have been reviewed. A lot of information has been collected and this information has been arranged. Then, using this information the structure of these lasers examined. In the thin disc lasers, while laser active compenent in the classical solid state laser is rod like, is thin disc in this structure. Fundamental principle of these lasers lies in that one surface of thin and disc shaped medium is cooled. And the same surface is simultaneously used as dynamic and/or last mirror of a resonator. Heat generated during the pumping is removed from this surface of the disc. This surface cooling results in minimalize the heat change and transversal phase distortion in light propagation direction that results in extraordinary light quality. Pump targets the light at an inclined position in the dynamic medium and could be used in a semifinite pumping order. Depending on the thickness of the crystal and on the level of doped contribution, pump radiation is absorbed from the active media. Increase in efficiency can be provided by the enhanced light quality laser diodes and higher amount of pump light passage. Potential generated by the heat is important due to the deformations in the active medium and thermal lens effect. These situations are discussed in detail and consequences such as excitation interactions, gain, and pump light absorption were determined. Thin disc laser is an innovative notion which can simultaneously provide high power, high efficiency, and good beam quality with diode pump solid state lasers. This is preliminary study on the thin disc lasers for future researches in Turkey to draw attention at science to this particular laser that is potentially easy to set up and operation for high power lasers.