Thermally induced lensing and depolarization by an Nd:YAG amplifier rod with a maximum pump power of 8 kW were measured. The beam waist position exhibited a nonlinear dependence on the pump power. From this, a linear relation between the refractive index change and pump power is derived, considering the propagation of the Gaussian probe beam in the laser rod with a quadratic index profile. The measured degree of polarization behind the laser rod confirms the thermal lens result that refractive index changes depend linearly on the pump power. Pumping above 5 kW leads to deviations of the refractive index distribution in the rod from radial symmetry.

Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen:Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden.Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen.Sofern die Verfasser die Dokumente unter Open-Content-Lizenzen (insbesondere CC-Lizenzen) zur Verfügung gestellt haben sollten, gelten abweichend von diesen Nutzungsbedingungen die in der dort genannten Lizenz gewährten Nutzungsrechte. Abstract: Is fostering economic growth a question of political will or 'unavoidable' to maintain economic stability? It is disputed whether such 'growth imperatives' are located within the current monetary system, creating a conflict with sustainability. To examine the claim that compound interest causes the growth imperative, we present five post-Keynesian models and perform a stability analysis in the parameter space. A stationary state with zero net saving and investment can be reached with positive interest rates, if the parameter 'consumption out of wealth' is above a threshold that rises with the interest rate. The other claim that retained profits from the interest revenues of banks create an imperative is based on circuitist models that we consider refutable. Their accounting is not consistent, and a modeling assumption central for a growth imperative is not underpinned theoretically: Bank's equity capital has to increase even if debt does not. This is a discrepancy between the authors' intentions in their texts and their actual models. We conclude that a monetary system based on interest-bearing debt-money with private banks does not lead to an 'inherent' growth imperative. If the stationary state is unstable, it is caused by decisions of agents, not by structural inevitableness. Terms of use: Documents in

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Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen:Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden.Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen.Sofern die Verfasser die Dokumente unter Open-Content-Lizenzen (insbesondere CC-Lizenzen) zur Verfügung gestellt haben sollten, gelten abweichend von diesen Nutzungsbedingungen die in der dort genannten Lizenz gewährten Nutzungsrechte.Abstract: Worldwide, economic growth is a prominent political goal, despite its severe conflicts with ecological sustainability. Contributing to the debate on economic 'growth imperatives', this article explores the thesis that firms and consumers both frequently acquire goods that increase their efficiency (productivity). For firms, efficiency is accepted as a main investment motive, but for consumers it is usually framed as convenience, ease, or comfort. Via social diffusion processes consumption goods that can save time and costs are transformed from a welcome expansion of possibilities into a social imperative whose noncompliance over time also has economic drawbacks. Positive feedback mechanisms not only lead to an acceleration of private life but favor ever more efficient industry and trade structures on the supply side, contributing to a redistribution of incomes and revenues. Eventually a comprehensive consumption pattern leads to a new 'normality' and makes the renunciation of consumption goods like cars, computers or smartphones literally impossible. Both microeconomics and consumption sociology usually assume fundamental differences of motivations, goals and structural overall conditions for firms and consumers. Some reasons for this scholarly asymmetry are discussed and a more symmetrical consumption model is proposed. As a political dimension the increasing resource use of this quest for efficiency is addressed.Licence: Creative-Commons CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0.Herausgeber / Publisher: ZOE. Institut für zukunftsfähige Ökonomien e. V., Thomas-Mann-Straße 36, 53111 Bonn. info@zoe-institut.de · www.zoe-institut.de · ISSN 2627-9436. ZOE Diskussionspapiere präsentieren wirtschafts-und sozialwissenschaftliche Analysen von Potentialen und Hemmnissen für eine zukunftsfähige Wirtschaftsordnung. ZOE discussion papers present economic and socio-scientific analyses of potentials and barriers for a future-fit economic system.

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