Quantitative analysis of the thermal distortions in a 100 W CW Nd:YAG ceramic slab laser

Making use of an interferometric diagnostic system, we nalyze the thermo-mechanical distortions taking place in the slab shaped ceramic Nd:YAG active medium of a 100 W class laser. These distortions are collected in different pumping regimes, both in static situations and during transient warm-up, and compared to the results of computer simulations. This procedure enables us to determine the relevance of different stress causes and thus to increase the specific power extraction of the active slab module.