Abstract

We have carried out experimental and theoretical investigations of two important properties of forward Raman amplifiers. These properties allow, in appropriate conditions, efficient conversion of laser beams of poor spatial quality into Stokes beams with predetermined phase fronts. The results were obtained using a configuration with parallel copropagating pump and Stokes beams. A discharge-pumped XeCl laser with an output of 0.5-1 J in a 60-nsec pulse was used to carry out the experiments.

© 1985 Optical Society of America