Thermal distribution calculation in diode pumped Nd:YAG laser rod by boundary element method

Boundary element method is used to calculate the temperature distribution by solving the heat transfer equation in a laser rod. Propagation of the pumping beam in the rod, that is assumed to be pumped longitudinally, results in a temperature gradient. Such a gradient produces radial variation of the refractive index and the rod behaves similar to a positive lens. Depending on the size of the pumping beam waist and absorption coefficient of the rod, a hot spot may form inside the rod.