Thermal lens effect induced by high power diode laser beam in liquid ethanol and its influence on a probe laser beam quality

摘要

In this paper, we present results of experimental investigation of the thermal lens effect in ethanol by a dual beam arrangement. The influence of thermal lens strength on a probe beam passing through this thermal lens medium was analyzed. Thermal lens was induced by focusing the beam of a high power diode laser in ethanol and the profile of a He-Ne laser as a probe beam was inspected. The comparison of the He-Ne laser beam profile in the condition of various diode laser beam powers shows that the beam quality of the probe can be significantly affected and the its deformed profile depends on the strength of thermal lens effect.