Concise technical answers to common questions about ASLD. For detailed module descriptions, see the Description page.
Thermal lensing in a laser crystal is modeled by combining thermal and structural analysis with time-dynamic temperature behavior. ASLD uses a 3-dimensional Finite-Element Method (FEM) for this analysis. The simulation includes thermal lens effects, strain, stress, and birefringence.
Dynamic Multi-Mode Analysis (DMA) is the ASLD method used to calculate output power and beam quality (M²) of laser resonators. It is based on a finite-volume discretization of the population inversion and simulates the time-dynamic behavior of high-order and low-order Gaussian modes using rate equations.
Yes. ASLD can simulate the dynamic behavior of resonator modes based on arbitrary rate-equation systems. This includes co-doped materials and interionic mechanisms such as up-conversion, energy transfer, and cross-relaxation. Rate equations are stored in a material database and can be extended by the user.
Yes. This type of simulation is possible in ASLD.
ASLD supports laser materials such as Nd:YAG, Yb:YAG, Er:YAG, Er:glass, and Tm,Ho:YAG. The software also includes material data such as absorption spectra and temperature-dependent stimulated emission cross-sections for supported systems.
Yes. ASLD allows users to modify the material database and add new crystal types with their relevant material specifications.
Yes. ASLD simulates the influence of pump light on output power, beam quality, and laser stability. The simulation accounts for pump spectrum, polarization, and frequency-dependent absorption in laser crystals, and supports both diode and flash-lamp pumping, including end-pumped and side-pumped geometries.
No. ASLD is specifically designed for solid-state lasers — crystalline and glass host materials doped with rare-earth or transition-metal ions. Semiconductor lasers (diode lasers) and gas lasers such as CO₂ are outside the scope of the software, though diode lasers are supported as pump sources within a solid-state laser system.
Yes. ASLD simulates the output power and gain of amplifiers and models the population inversion on a 3-dimensional finite-volume grid. The software supports single-pass and double-pass amplification as well as ultra-short and chirped-pulse amplifiers.
Yes. The ASLD package includes Beam Propagation Method (BPM) capabilities for amplifiers. BPM is used for amplifier beam-shape simulation including gain guiding effects, while ray tracing is used to define pump light in a user-friendly way.
Yes. ASLD supports the analysis of active and passive Q-switch lasers, including pulse energy, pulse-width, beam quality, and pulse frequency. For passive Q-switching, the software accounts for saturable absorber properties such as ground-state and excited-state absorption cross-sections.
Fill out the contact form on the ASLD contact page to request a demo or further information.