Investigation of contrast ratio dependence on the angular deviation of the laser beam direction from the optical axis of Pockels cells based on the beta barium borate crystal

Abstract

Dependences of the contrast ratio on the angular deviation of the optical axis with a step of 2 arcmin 28 arcsec have been obtained for Pockels cells based on beta barium borate crystals in the 49 arcmin 34 arcsec range. The investigation was conducted for a single Pockels cell and for a double cell based on optically aligned crystals. The results of investigations can be applied for the calculation of the laser beam focus in order to use a high contrast ratio in high-power laser systems when the light is modulated using Q-switching.