Abstract

Low-magnification unstable resonators that utilize radially birefringent elements and that have been shown to be suitable for use with ruby and alexandrite lasers are described. From these resonators, 400 mJ of energy in a Q-switched pulse with ~2.5× diffraction-limited output has been obtained from alexandrite, and 250-mJ Q-switched output that is near diffraction limited has been obtained from ruby.

© 1986 Optical Society of America

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