High-energy generation of arbitrary cylindrical vector vortex beams using a modified Mach-Zehnder interferometer

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Laser Physics
• Quantum Optics

Background:

• Vortex beams possess unique phase structures.
• Higher-order Poincaré sphere (HOPS) describes complex vector beam states.
• Generating high-energy, controllable vector vortex beams is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate interferometric generation of high-energy pulsed vector vortex beams.
• To achieve arbitrary control over vector vortex states on the HOPS.
• To attain the highest pulse energy for arbitrary HOPS vector vortex beams.

Main Methods:

• Generation of scalar vortex beams (ℓ=1, ℓ=2) using spiral phase plates and a 1064 nm laser.
• Construction of a modified Mach-Zehnder interferometer for inter-modal phase and amplitude control.
• Characterization of generated vector vortex beams' energy and power.

Main Results:

• Produced scalar vortex beams with 2.75 mJ pulse energy at 1 kHz (15.5 ns duration).
• Achieved arbitrary control of vector vortex states on the HOPS using the interferometer.
• Attained pulse energies of 2.5 mJ and peak powers exceeding 160 kW for HOPS beams.

Conclusions:

• The novel interferometer enables precise control over vector vortex beams on the HOPS.
• This work achieves record pulse energies for arbitrary higher-order vector vortex beams.
• The demonstrated technique has potential applications in areas requiring high-energy structured light.