Controllable experimental modulation of high-order Laguerre-Gaussian laser modes

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Laser Physics

Background:

• High-order helical and sinusoidal Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) laser modes exhibit uneven energy distribution across their vortex core rings and lobes.
• This non-uniformity limits their efficiency in applications requiring concentrated optical energy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore an experimental method for controllable energy redistribution in high-order LG laser modes.
• To generate modulated helical and sinusoidal LG modes with enhanced intensity in their vortex structures.

Main Methods:

• Numerical design of a diffractive optical element (DOE) displayed on a spatial light modulator (SLM).
• Utilizing the DOE to reshape the energy distribution of high-order LG modes at the Fourier plane.

Main Results:

• Successfully reshuffled optical energy, converting low-intensity vortex rings into high-intensity ones for helical LG modes.
• Generated high-order modulated helical LG modes with a greater number of intense concentric vortex core rings.
• Extended the method to sinusoidal LG modes, creating modulated modes with a maximum number of intense lobes.

Conclusions:

• The developed method enables controllable modulation of energy distribution in high-order LG laser modes.
• Modulated helical and sinusoidal LG modes offer potential advantages over standard LG modes in applications demanding high-intensity rings and lobes.
• Potential applications include micro- and nanoparticle manipulation and optical lithography.