Losses in a Pulsed Ruby Laser*

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Abstract
The total cavity loss in several ruby lasers has been determined experimentally from a set of threshold measurements. Scattering loss and end-mirror reflectance were measured separately and the difference between these losses and the total attributed to diffraction. Both plane-parallel and confocal resonators were employed. Diffraction loss in the plane-parallel cavities was 25±8% per pass while diffraction loss in the confocal cavity was 8±8%. These values are in agreement with theoretical analysis within experimental error.