For detecting side cooling uniformity of laser medium

a detecting method based on Mach-Zehnder interferometer is presented. Theoretical analysis indicates that the interference fringe produced by a reference beam and a beam passing the medium is also isotherm on the radial face of the laser medium. The simulations on the temperature fields of uniformly and non-uniformly cooled mediums by heat analysis software indicate that: if the interference fringe is circle with the center of the radial face as the center

the sides of the medium contact closely with the copper cooler

the medium is cooled uniformly. If the interference fringe is distorted to a certain direction

the medium contacts loosely with the copper cooler in the direction. In the experiment

a distorted interference fringe is obtained by detecting a 3 mm×3 mm×5 mm sized

a

-cut

0.5% Nd

3+

-doped Nd:YVO

4

embedded in a copper cooler. A circular interference fringe is obtained after reassembling the copper cooler according to the distorted direction of the distorted interference fringe. Experimental result agrees with the theoretical analysis very well

it has proved that Mach-Zehnder interferometry can detect side cooling uniformity of laser medium.