Effect of active element anisotropy on the polarization characteristics of solid-state lasers

Eigenstates of polarization at each point of the radiating aperture cross section have been studied as a function of a temperature gradient between the surface and the lateral surface of the active element for a cavity containing a thermally deformed active element and a partial polarizer. It is found that the shape of the eigenstates of polarization may change from linear to circular with the azimuths of the large semiaxes of the polarization ellipses ranging from 0 to plus or minus 45 deg. Results for cylindrical and rectangular active elements are presented in graphical form.