LAUSR

Abstract. In a high-power laser system, thermally induced aberrations, which can influence the laser beam quality, are caused by thermal deformations of the optical elements when they are irradiated by the laser. We evaluate the mechanism responsible for the influence of thermally induced aberrations on the laser beam quality factor (M2) using the finite element method and angular spectrum theory. The thermally induced aberrations are decomposed into their constituent Zernike terms, showing that the influence of the thermally induced aberrations on M2 comprises a mixed contribution of different aberrations. The M2 of a fiber laser is simulated and measured when the laser transmits through organic glass. The simulation results have a good consistency with the experimental results, indicating that the method used in this study is effective when analyzing the influence of thermally induced aberrations on M2.