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Updated: Aug 26, 2026

The Generation of Higher-order Laguerre-Gauss Optical Beams for High-precision Interferometry
Published on: August 12, 2013
Generation of uniform light by use of diode lasers and a truncated paraboloid with a Lambertian scatterer
Taito Alahautala1, Rolf Hernberg
1Institute of Physics, Optics Laboratory, Tampere University of Technology, PO Box 692, FIN-33101 Tampere, Finland. taito.alahautala@tut.fi
Abstract:
Uniform illumination was generated by use of a large number of diode laser emitters and a single nonimaging paraboloid with a Lambertian scatterer in the truncation plane. Laser light traverses a path toward the Lambertian surface and back by total internal reflection. An overall efficiency of 69% was demonstrated. Improvements that would increase the efficiency to more than 85% are suggested. The illuminated area is circular, with 14-mm diameter. The spatial nonuniformity of the beam profile is less than +/- 2%.

