Dependence of the divergence of the radiation emitted by laser oscillators and amplifiers on the optical inhomogeneity of the medium

An investigation was made of the divergence of the radiation emitted by laser oscillators and amplifiers with a liquid active medium (POCl₃ + SnCl₄ + Nd³⁺) as a function of the change in the refractive index caused by the pumping radiation. It was found that the divergence of the output radiation was governed by the refractive-index inhomogeneities. In the case of strong inhomogeneities, the divergence was practically the same for oscillators and amplifiers.