The transmission properties of a focused laser inside anisotropic material are complex due to the birefringent effect, which has remarkable influence on the light distribution and frequency multiplication efficiency of crystals. Meanwhile, it will also affect the laser micromachining precision of birefringent materials with random polarization. In this study, ray tracing and diffraction integral methods were proposed to develop the mathematical model of a laser focused through an isotropic medium into a KDP crystal. Using these models, the focusing properties and 3D light intensity distribution of a focused laser inside a KDP crystal at different orientations were investigated. The research shows that the size and shape of the E-ray focus will distort, and its peak power density decreases rapidly with the decrease of the angle between the optical axis and the crystal surface. Meanwhile, the focal position of the E-ray will also move with the change of optical axis orientation. Based on the simulated results, an approximate 3D light intensity equation of a laser focused into birefringent material was also proposed, which is in good agreement with the theoretical analysis. The related simulated results have an important engineering value for nonlinear optics and laser processing of birefringent materials. (C) 2016 Optical Society of America
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