Modeling of time-dependent thermal effects in Cr2+-doped zinc selenide thin disks

We used finite element software to model the time dependence of thermal lensing and temperature rise in a Cr2+-doped zinc selenide thin disk for pulsed pumping. Two cases, chopped cw and Q-switched pumping, were considered. The model agrees well with experimental results for the chopped pumping case but does not directly agree with Q-switched pumping because the time delay between absorption and heat transfer to the host material is not accounted for in our model.