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Low-cost Custom Fabrication and Mode-locked Operation of an All-normal-dispersion Femtosecond Fiber Laser for Multiphoton Microscopy

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A digital laser for on-demand laser modes.

Sandile Ngcobo¹, Igor Litvin, Liesl Burger

¹School of Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa.

Nature Communications

|August 3, 2013

Summary

This study introduces the first digital laser, using a spatial light modulator as a holographic mirror to digitally control laser beam shapes. This innovation allows for on-demand customization and real-time switching of laser modes.

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Area of Science:

Optics and Photonics
Laser Physics
Digital Optics

Background:

Traditional laser beam shaping relies on fixed optical elements like apertures and mirrors.
These methods are complex to design, fabricate, and limit laser mode selection.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a novel method for on-demand laser mode customization.
To overcome the limitations of fixed optical elements in laser beam shaping.

Main Methods:

Implementation of the first digital laser using an intra-cavity, electrically addressed reflective phase-only spatial light modulator.
Utilizing computer-generated holograms to dynamically control the holographic mirror's phase and amplitude.
Integration into a standard solid-state laser resonator.

Main Results:

Demonstrated digital control over laser output beam shapes.
Achieved real-time switching between different spatial laser modes.
Successfully customized laser modes directly at the source.

Conclusions:

The digital laser offers a flexible and efficient alternative to conventional laser mode customization.
This technology enables on-demand control and dynamic reconfiguration of laser beam characteristics.
Opens new avenues for advanced laser applications requiring adaptable beam profiles.