Contrast ratio of a neodymium laser using wavefront reversal by stimulated Brillouin scattering

An experimental study was made of the contrast ratio of a neodymium laser using wavefront reversal by stimulated Brillouin scattering. It was found that the contrast ratio can be as high as ~10⁸, its limiting value can be determined by scattering on the surfaces of the optical elements, and that it is practically independent of the contrast ratio of the master oscillator.