Abstract

Pulsed thermal blooming typically develops rather slowly after a beam is turned on at time t = 0. This result may be obtained by examining the differential equation for the variation of the refractive index with time after turn-on. This paper examines the transient effects which may be introduced at the edges of the aperture. These effects give rise to faster local onset of blooming and discontinuities and may influence beam Instabilities. (12 min)

© 1988 Optical Society of America