Abstract
Parametric studies to predict the conditions of the onset of natural convection in fluidic optical devices are given. Thermal lens effect in fluidic optical devices induced by CW laser heating may accompany the onset of the natural convection closely associated to the characteristics of the devices. When natural convection occurs in fluidic optical devices, it cannot be used as laser beam shaper because laser beam is distorted. It has been investigated that the onset of the natural convection is strongly dependent on configuration of fluidic optical device. In particular, the optical thickness of the cell, in which liquid medium is filled, has significant effect on the onset of the natural convection.
