Influence of the orientation of a crystal on thermal polarization effects in high-power solid-state lasers

The polarization thermal self-action of laser radiation propagating in an isotropic crystal has been studied experimentally. New nonlinear effects have been observed for the first time. These effects include a change in the symmetry of the depolarized-field distribution and the qualitative dependence of the degree of the self-induced depolarization on the geometry of the beam and crystal. The classical problem of self-induced depolarization has been analytically solved in the general form for an arbitrary orientation of any cubic crystal. The theoretical results agree well with the experimental data. The optimum orientation of the laser crystal has been determined, which can be effectively used in lasers with high average power.