Vector vortex alkali laser amplifier

Vector vortex beams (VVBs) with simultaneous helical phase and non-uniform polarization distributions are attracting extensive research interest due to their unique properties. However, achieving arbitrary, tunable-order, and high-power VVBs remains a challenge. We proposed a vector vortex alkali amplifier with the potential to generate high-power VVBs. By sending a shaped vector vortex seed beam into an alkali amplifier, we obtained an output power of 4.41 W under the condition of both polarization order and topological charge equal to 1, with a gain of 22.45 dB @2 cm, which exhibits a mode fidelity of 88.2% and single-frequency characteristics. This setup enables the generation of high-power VVBs corresponding to arbitrary poles on the hybrid-order Poincaré sphere, exhibiting potential applications in optical sensing, quantum technologies, optical communications, and other related fields.