Thermal lensing in monoclinic yttrium oxyorthosilicate laser crystals

Abstract Properties of a thermal lens (TL) for end-pumping laser active elements made of monoclinic yttrium oxyorthosilicate crystal Y 2 SiO 5 with different crystal cuts are studied. The plane stress approximation is considered. A TL with the active elements under consideration is found to be positive and astigmatic. The orientation of the principal meridional planes of the astigmatic TL (corresponding to its maximum and minimum optical power) in relation to the direction of light polarization depends on the crystal cut. The crystal cuts for which the TL is spherical have been determined.