aTroitsk Institute For Innovation and Fusion Researches, Troitsk, Moscow Region, 142092, Russia

bMoscow State University, Moscow, 119899, Russia

The physical nature and manifestation of several types of instabilities and fluctuation processes in the cavity of the fast-flow CO₂ -laser are considered. It was established by experiment that optimal design of optical and gas-dynamic laser sections depresses totally the high frequency fluctuations and reduces low-frequency fluctuations to the level 6-10%. It was shown that inhomogeneities in the laser cavity are apt to complicate appreciably the space-temporary structure of output laser radiation. To interpret the experimental results influence of phase aberrations on the process of formation of caustics and wavefront dislocations in laser beam is considered.

Keywords: unstable cavity, laser beam, diffraction, wavefront dislocation, caustic, power instabilities.

The actual now-a-days actual problem of the improvement of the characteristics of high power technological lasers is closely connected with the investigation of the physical nature of optical inhomogeneities and instabilities in laser cavities as well as with their influence on radiation structure. High peak intensity values inherent in high power fast-flow lasers reinforce the optical inhomogeneity of the active medium, cause termodeformation of the cavity mirror and generate nonlinear self-action effects and multimode lasing in active media^1,2. The important role in development of generation instability in fast-flow lasers is played self-modulation processes. They are typical for the devices with cross flow of active medium using a cavity with an unstable configuration under the condition of separate pumping and generation. The auto-oscillations of the power having the period close to time of medium crossing the cavity offer the depth of power modulation up to 100 % ^3,4. Speed inhomogeneities of an active medium flow can result in stabilisation of a generation mode⁵. However speed inhomogeneities strengthen the phase inhomogeneities of the medium⁶. Aforesaid testifies that there are a lot of factors, which influence negatively on stability and quality of laser radiation. The result of this influence is usually estimated by analysis of the far-field radiation structure. At the same time much less attention is paid to the study of the light field characteristics in the near diffraction zone, the length of which for wide-aperture beams is rather significant. In this paper the spatial-temporary structure of CO₂-laser beam of the near field diffraction zone is considered.

Measuring of power fluctuation value and the intensity distributions in the cross section of the output radiation was carried out in the previously weakened laser beam. To attenuate the high power radiation the grooved gratings made on the mirrors base, diffraction couplers on the basis of mirrors with regular sieve structure were used, as well as couplers in the form of narrow fringes of spherical mirrors ensuring the scanning of a laser beam over a small aperture of the photoreceiver. In case of insufficient value of radiation attenuation the edges of optical plates made of KCl or ZnCe were applied. Depending on the power of weakened laser beam the registration of radiation was carried out directly or by using the integrating sphere. The time of the beam aperture scanning was about 10^-2 - 10^-3 s. On occasion to measure the intensity distribution in the beam cross-section the small spherical mirrors with the diameter of about 5 - 10 mm were placed instead of mirror fringes. It allowed to scan the output beam aperture thus give the opportunity to register the intensity distribution with the resolution of about 3 - 7 mm in any given beam scan.

Contrary to the temporal behaviour of the total power the intensity in the beam cross-section was extremely unstable. Besides its transverse distribution was very complicated. The spatial modulation of intensity distribution in the beam cross-section in the near zone varied with the distance from the plane of measurement in relation to the output aperture of the resonator.

To improve the registration of channels with high meanings of intensity the special aerosol chamber was designed. It allowed to visualise the spatial fragments of the beam which intensity surpasses the certain level. As working medium in the aerosol chamber the fine particles of corundum weighed in air were used. To increase density of power and to achieve a threshold level of a luminescence corundum, the radiation was directed through the aerosol chamber, being previously focused with the help of a long-focal-length a mirror. Such technique allowed by character of a luminescence corundum to investigate transformations of spatial distribution of intensity in a laser beam. In fig. 1 the typical photo-picture of a luminescence of corundum particles in a converging laser beam is given. In it the channels with high meanings of intensity are precisely visible. The amount and position of such channels in process of generation are varied.

Simultaneously with registration of spatial distribution of intensity of radiation the research of features of phase distribution using the help shift interferometer was carried out. The analysis of interferograms has shown, that alongside with essential phase aberration on the wave front screw dislocations are formed. Their identification was carried out on points of branching of interference fringes. In fig. 2 interferogram of wave front with the screw dislocation is given. The registration of screw dislocation is in the consent with the earlier discovery^8,9 of topological distortions of wave front in laser radiation of a rather wide class of lasers.

Let's consider in more detail the process of formation of caustics and dislocations in the field of a laser beam. The general representation about character of considered process can be received on an example about propagation of a gaussian beam, the phase of which varies in an initial plane on the harmonic law. The amplitude of a field of such wave under longitudinal coordinate z=0 is

where m - is a parameter describing the depth of phase modulation, x,y - are cross coordinates, a -is period of modulation. At the distance z from the initial plane the field can be presented as a superposition of gaussian beams¹⁰:

where J_q - is the bessel function about q order, G_q(x',y,z')-is a function, which describes a field of a gaussian beam¹¹,

x'=z sin(qa )+x cos(qa ),

z'=z cos(qa )-x sin(qa ),

ED is located symmetrically relatively to the axes of beak-shaped caustic. Their arrangement in relation to the caustic generatrix corresponds to phase structure of a field given in work¹³. In this work the field is calculated on base of Persy integral. With increase of initial modulation depth of a phase the number of ED grows. The appropriate dependence is given by fig. 3. Longitudinal structure of intensity distribution is given by fig. 4 for m=1.2 and w₀/a=5. From it one can see, that the phase modulation results in formation of the longitudinal channels. These channels are extended along a propagation direction of the beam and have power density much greater than its average meaning. The axes of these areas coincide with the axes of symmetry of beak-shaped caustic.

Fig.3. Dependence of edge dislocations number on the phase modulation depth. The length of the counting range - is a²/2l , width - is a.

Fig. 4. Longitudinal structure of intensity of modulated gaussian beam. z₁=2a²/l .

If the phase modulation in an initial plane is taking place not on one, but in two cross coordinates there is an opportunity of formation of screw dislocation² (SD) of wave front. SD differ from ED fundamentally by topological structure (at path-tracing around SD a phase varies by 2p ). In fig.5,a the equiphase lines structure of wave front in an initial plane is given, if the distribution is as follows:

(3)

Process of formation of wave front dislocations was investigated also by using the stochastic theoretical model. The wave with uniform amplitude and stochastic phase in one transverse coordinate in initial plane was considered. Fig 7 shows the dependence of average amount of ED n in phase correlation interval R_cor on the root mean square s of phase in initial plane. Value n was estimated in plane z=A²/2l , where A - period of largest harmonic of wave front disturbances. It is seen that n tends to unity under s tends to five. However individual dislocations are formed in laser beam even if s is equal to unity.

Fig. 7. The dependence of average amount of ED n in phase correlation interval R_cor on root mean square of phase s .

The results of computations specify the important role, which the smooth small-scale disturbances of wave front play in transformation of an amplitude-phase structure of radiation and formation of caustics and dislocations. The occurrence of caustics and dislocations of wave front is of threshold character and is directly connected with the depth of initial phase modulation. For practice it is important that the occurrence of the specified formations in a laser beam is connected to formation of narrow channels, in which the intensity of radiation considerably exeeds its average meaning. These results have shown agreement with experimental data concerning fast-flow CO₂ laser. Thus, the problem of improvement of wave front quality in output laser beam as well as stabilisation of total power is very vital.