Induced dichroism in passive laser switches
The characteristics of absorption saturation in resonant polarization-inhomogeneous media of passive laser switches (made of LiF crystals with color centers and of a solution of 1052 dye) were investigated theoretically and experimentally. The induced dichroism was determined: in the case of the dye switch it agreed with the theoretical predictions, whereas in the case of the lithium fluoride switch it was slightly less than the calculated value because of depolarization of the bleaching wave in the crystal as a result of residual birefringence. It was concluded that allowance for the induced dichroism was essential in studies and interpretation of the polarization characteristics of lasers with passive Q switching.