Diagnostic method of wavefront aberration for gain mediums in slab lasers

Forty-seven pieces of slab gain mediums were measured using this diagnostic method and the results show that the wavefront aberrations of slab gain mediums are affected by the processes like coating. The measurement results were classified by PV (peak to valley) values of static wavefront aberrations. The maximum PV value is more than 5 m for the measured samples and only 4.1% of the samples have PV values less than 1 m. Some slab gain mediums were selected and connected in series like in a slab laser system. The measurement results reveal that if the wavefront aberrations of the two gain mediums in series can complement each other, the static aberrations of the laser system can be reduced.