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Harrison J, Forbes A, Naidoo D. Amplification of higher-order Laguerre-Gaussian modes using a dual-pass MOPA system. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:17408-17423. [PMID: 37381476 DOI: 10.1364/oe.483373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Structured light beams that are tailored for purpose have found a myriad of applications, from improved efficiency of laser-based industrial manufacturing processes to enhanced bandwidth in optical communication. While the selection of such modes is readily achievable at low powers (<100 mW) with external shaping devices, creating and controlling structured light at higher powers (>1 W) has proven to be a non-trivial task, particularly if dynamic control is required. Here we demonstrate the power amplification of low-power higher-order Laguerre-Gaussian modes using a novel in-line dual-pass master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA). The amplifier, operating at a wavelength of 1064 nm, consists of a polarization-based interferometer that alleviates parasitic lasing effects. Through our approach we demonstrate a gain factor of up to 17×, corresponding to an overall enhancement of 300% in amplification compared to a single-pass output configuration while preserving the beam quality of the input mode. These findings are confirmed computationally using a three-dimensional split-step model and show excellent agreement with the experimental data.
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Li H, Li J, Wei D. Conversion and selection of Laguerre-Gaussian modes via a variable aperture in a geometric-phase-plate-assisted optical resonator. OPTICS LETTERS 2023; 48:2672-2675. [PMID: 37186737 DOI: 10.1364/ol.487104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
We numerically analyze the conversion and selection of intracavity modes in a two-mirror optical resonator, which is assisted by a geometric phase plate (GPP) and a circular aperture, along with its output performance of high-order Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) modes. Based on the iterative Fox-Li method and the analysis of modal decomposition, transmission losses, and spot sizes, we find that various self-consistent two-faced resonator modes could be formed by fixing the GPP but changing the size of aperture. Such a feature not only enriches transverse-mode structures inside the optical resonator, but also provides a flexible way to directly output high-purity LG modes for high-capacity optical communication, high-precision interferometers, high-dimensional quantum correlation, etc.
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Kerridge-Johns WR, Srinivasa Rao A, Fujimoto Y, Omatsu T. Red, orange, and dual wavelength vortex emission from Pr:WPFGF fiber laser using a microscope slide output coupler. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:16607-16614. [PMID: 37157736 DOI: 10.1364/oe.491867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Visible vortex beams have a large array of applications; however, the sources are often large or complex. Here, we present a compact vortex source with red, orange, and dual wavelength emission. This Pr:Waterproof Fluoro-Aluminate Glass fiber laser uses a standard microscope slide as an interferometric output coupler, yielding high quality first order vortex modes in a compact setup. We further demonstrate the broad (∼5 nm) emission bands in the orange (610 nm), red (637 nm) and near-infrared regions (698 nm), with the potential for green (530 nm) and cyan (485 nm) emission. This is a low-cost, compact and accessible device giving high quality modes for visible vortex applications.
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Bernas M, Napiorkowski M, Zolnacz K, Statkiewicz-Barabach G, Kiczor A, Mergo P, Urbanczyk W. Fiber-based vortex beam source operating in a broadband or tunable mode. OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 30:27715-27729. [PMID: 36236937 DOI: 10.1364/oe.463828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate a fiber-based optical vortex beam source operating in broadband or tunable mode in the spectral range of 1100-1400 nm. The vector vortices of the total angular momenta equal to +2, 0, and -2 are obtained by converting the respective linearly polarized (LP11) modes of the two-mode birefringent PANDA fiber with stress-applying elements by gradually twisting its output section. At the input end, the PANDA fiber is powered by broadband supercontinuum or tunable Raman solitons generated in the LP11 polarization modes of a birefringent microstructured fiber with a specially designed dispersion profile and coupled to the respective LP11 modes of the PANDA fiber. Two pulse lasers operating in different regimes (1 ns/1064 nm and 190 fs/1037 nm) were used as the pump to generate supercontinuum or tunable solitons directly in the LP11 modes of the microstructured fiber purely excited with a special Wollaston prism-based method. The high modal and polarization purities of the beams after successive transformations were experimentally confirmed. We also proved the vortex nature of the output beams using shearing interferometry.
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Abstract
Vortex beams (VBs) are structured beams with helical wavefronts carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) and they have been widely used in lots of domains, such as optical data-transmission, optical tweezer, quantum entanglement, and super-resolution imaging. The ability to generate vortex beams with favorable performance is of great significance for these advanced applications. Compared with extra-cavity schemes, such as spatial light modulation, mode conversion, and others which transform other modes into vortex modes, solid-state vortex lasers can output vortex beams directly and show advantages including a compact structure, high robustness, easy to integrate, and low cost. In this review, we summarize intra-cavity generation approaches to vortex beams in solid-state lasers. Our work on 1.6μm eye-safe vector vortex lasers is also introduced.
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Geberbauer JWT, Kerridge-Johns WR, Damzen MJ. >30 W vortex LG 01 or HG 10 laser using a mode transforming output coupler. OPTICS EXPRESS 2021; 29:29082-29094. [PMID: 34615025 DOI: 10.1364/oe.432674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
High-power vortex light generated directly from lasers will help drive their applications in material processing, optical manipulation, levitation, particle acceleration, and communications, but limited power has been achieved to date. In this work, we demonstrate record vortex average power of 31.3 W directly from a laser, to the best of our knowledge, using an interferometric mode transforming output coupler to convert a fundamental mode Nd:YVO4 laser into a LG01 vortex output. The vortex laser was Q-switched with up to 600 kHz pulse rate with a high slope efficiency of 62.5% and an excellent LG01 modal purity of 95.2%. We further demonstrate > 30W laser power in a high quality HG10 mode by simple adjustment of the output coupler. Experimental investigations of varying output coupling transmission are compared with theory. This successful implementation of the interferometric output coupler in a high power system demonstrates the suitability of the mode transforming method for robust turn-key vortex lasers with high efficiency and high modal purity, with scalable power and pulse rate.
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Ma Y, Lee AJ, Pask HM, Miyamoto K, Omatsu T. Direct generation of 1108 nm and 1173 nm Laguerre-Gaussian modes from a self-Raman Nd:GdVO 4 laser. OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 28:24095-24103. [PMID: 32752395 DOI: 10.1364/oe.400007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate a continuous-wave self-Raman Nd:GdVO4 Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) mode laser based on different Raman shifts of 382 cm-1 and 882 cm-1 by shaping the pumping beam with the use of an axicon lens and a focusing lens. Selective generation of LG mode beams at 1108 nm or 1173 nm, or simultaneously 1108 nm and 1173 nm, was achieved by carefully adjusting the alignment of the laser cavity. The maximum Raman LG mode output powers at the wavelengths of 1108 nm (the first-Stokes emission of the 382 cm-1 Raman shift) and 1173 nm (the first-Stokes emission of the 882 cm-1 Raman shift) were measured to be 49.8 mW and 133.4 mW at the absorbed pump power of 5.69 W, respectively. The generated LG modes, formed via the incoherent superposition of two LG mode beams with positive and negative topological charges, carry zero orbital angular momentum. Such LG mode laser sources have the potential to fill in the wavelength gap of lasers in the visible and infrared regions.
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Chen Y, Ding M, Wang J, Wang L, Liu Q, Zhao Y, Liu Y, Shen D, Wang Z, Xu X, Petrov V. High-energy 2 µm pulsed vortex beam excitation from a Q-switched Tm:LuYAG laser. OPTICS LETTERS 2020; 45:722-725. [PMID: 32004294 DOI: 10.1364/ol.384201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We report on the first, to the best of our knowledge, direct generation of pulsed vortex beams at 2 µm from a ${ Q}$Q-switched Tm:LuYAG laser. High-energy Laguerre-Gaussian (${{\rm LG}_{0,l}}$LG0,l) pulsed laser beams with well-defined handedness are selectively excited through spatially matched pump gain distribution and asymmetric cavity loss without using any intracavity handedness-selective optical elements. Pulse energies of 1.48 mJ for the ${{\rm LG}_{0, + 1}}$LG0,+1 mode and 1.51 mJ for the ${{\rm LG}_{0, - 1}}$LG0,-1 mode, respectively, are achieved at a repetition rate of 500 Hz. The pulsed laser beams with helical wavefronts are potentially useful for studying orbital angular momentum transformation dynamics, generation of mid-IR vortex beams, and nanostructuring of organic materials.
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Brandus CA, Hau S, Broasca A, Greculeasa M, Voicu FM, Gheorghe C, Gheorghe L, Dascalu T. Efficient 1 µm Laser Emission of Czochralski-Grown Nd:LGSB Single Crystal. MATERIALS 2019; 12:ma12122005. [PMID: 31234544 PMCID: PMC6631497 DOI: 10.3390/ma12122005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A 5.0-at.% Nd-doped La0.64Gd0.41Sc2.95(BO3)4 (Nd:LGSB) borate laser crystal was successfully grown by the Czochralski method, for the first time to our knowledge. The spectroscopic properties of the grown crystal are discussed and 1 µm laser emission, under end-pumping with a fiber-coupled diode laser at 807 nm, is reported. A c-cut Nd:LGSB medium yielded 1.35 W continuous-wave output power at 0.63 overall optical-to-optical efficiency, with respect to the absorbed pump power, together with the high 0.68 slope efficiency. With an a-cut Nd:LGSB sample, 0.81 W output power at 0.52 optical-to-optical efficiency was obtained. The laser emission performances under quasi-continuous wave pumping are presented as well, for both c-cut and a-cut crystals. Passive Q-switching was investigated with a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM). Laser pulses with 2.2 µJ energy and 32.8 ns durations were recorded from a-cut Nd:LGSB. The average output power reached 0.36 W at 1.55 W absorbed pump power. Passive mode-locking with SESAM was achieved in a long Z-type resonator. Ultrashort pulses with 0.19 W average power, 1.63 nJ energy, and 1.43 ps pulse duration, at 118 MHz repetition rate, are demonstrated for the a-cut Nd:LGSB medium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catalina-Alice Brandus
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Laboratory of Solid-State Quantum Electronics, Atomistilor 409, Magurele 077125, Ilfov, Romania.
- Doctoral School of Physics, University of Bucharest, Faculty of Physics, Magurele 077125, Ilfov, Romania.
| | - Stefania Hau
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Laboratory of Solid-State Quantum Electronics, Atomistilor 409, Magurele 077125, Ilfov, Romania.
| | - Alin Broasca
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Laboratory of Solid-State Quantum Electronics, Atomistilor 409, Magurele 077125, Ilfov, Romania.
| | - Madalin Greculeasa
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Laboratory of Solid-State Quantum Electronics, Atomistilor 409, Magurele 077125, Ilfov, Romania.
- Doctoral School of Physics, University of Bucharest, Faculty of Physics, Magurele 077125, Ilfov, Romania.
| | - Flavius-Marian Voicu
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Laboratory of Solid-State Quantum Electronics, Atomistilor 409, Magurele 077125, Ilfov, Romania.
| | - Cristina Gheorghe
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Laboratory of Solid-State Quantum Electronics, Atomistilor 409, Magurele 077125, Ilfov, Romania.
| | - Lucian Gheorghe
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Laboratory of Solid-State Quantum Electronics, Atomistilor 409, Magurele 077125, Ilfov, Romania.
| | - Traian Dascalu
- National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Laboratory of Solid-State Quantum Electronics, Atomistilor 409, Magurele 077125, Ilfov, Romania.
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Shen Y, Wang X, Xie Z, Min C, Fu X, Liu Q, Gong M, Yuan X. Optical vortices 30 years on: OAM manipulation from topological charge to multiple singularities. LIGHT, SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS 2019; 8:90. [PMID: 31645934 PMCID: PMC6804826 DOI: 10.1038/s41377-019-0194-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 359] [Impact Index Per Article: 71.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 08/04/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Thirty years ago, Coullet et al. proposed that a special optical field exists in laser cavities bearing some analogy with the superfluid vortex. Since then, optical vortices have been widely studied, inspired by the hydrodynamics sharing similar mathematics. Akin to a fluid vortex with a central flow singularity, an optical vortex beam has a phase singularity with a certain topological charge, giving rise to a hollow intensity distribution. Such a beam with helical phase fronts and orbital angular momentum reveals a subtle connection between macroscopic physical optics and microscopic quantum optics. These amazing properties provide a new understanding of a wide range of optical and physical phenomena, including twisting photons, spin-orbital interactions, Bose-Einstein condensates, etc., while the associated technologies for manipulating optical vortices have become increasingly tunable and flexible. Hitherto, owing to these salient properties and optical manipulation technologies, tunable vortex beams have engendered tremendous advanced applications such as optical tweezers, high-order quantum entanglement, and nonlinear optics. This article reviews the recent progress in tunable vortex technologies along with their advanced applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijie Shen
- Key Laboratory of Photonic Control Technology (Tsinghua University), Ministry of Education, 100084 Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Department of Precision Instrument, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China
| | - Xuejiao Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Public Safety Risk Perception and Control by Big Data (NEL-PSRPC), China Academy of Electronics and Information Technology of CETC, China Electronic Technology Group Corporation, 100041 Beijing, China
| | - Zhenwei Xie
- Nanophotonics Research Center, Shenzhen University, 518060 Shenzhen, China
| | - Changjun Min
- Nanophotonics Research Center, Shenzhen University, 518060 Shenzhen, China
| | - Xing Fu
- Key Laboratory of Photonic Control Technology (Tsinghua University), Ministry of Education, 100084 Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Department of Precision Instrument, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Photonic Control Technology (Tsinghua University), Ministry of Education, 100084 Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Department of Precision Instrument, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China
| | - Mali Gong
- Key Laboratory of Photonic Control Technology (Tsinghua University), Ministry of Education, 100084 Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Department of Precision Instrument, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China
| | - Xiaocong Yuan
- Nanophotonics Research Center, Shenzhen University, 518060 Shenzhen, China
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Forbes A. Controlling light's helicity at the source: orbital angular momentum states from lasers. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2017; 375:rsta.2015.0436. [PMID: 28069767 PMCID: PMC5247480 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2015.0436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Optical modes that carry orbital angular momentum (OAM) are routinely produced external to the laser cavity and have found a variety of applications, thus increasing the demand for integrated solutions for their production. Yet such modes are notoriously difficult to produce from lasers due to the strict symmetry requirements for their creation, together with the need to break the degeneracy in helicity. Here, we review the progress made since 1992 in producing such twisted light modes directly at the source, from gas to solid-state lasers, bulk to integrated on-chip solutions, through to generic devices for on-demand OAM in both scalar and vector forms.This article is part of the themed issue 'Optical orbital angular momentum'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Forbes
- School of Physics, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Vortex Laser based on III-V semiconductor metasurface: direct generation of coherent Laguerre-Gauss modes carrying controlled orbital angular momentum. Sci Rep 2016; 6:38156. [PMID: 27917885 PMCID: PMC5137145 DOI: 10.1038/srep38156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2016] [Accepted: 11/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The generation of a coherent state, supporting a large photon number, with controlled orbital-angular-momentum L = ħl (of charge l per photon) presents both fundamental and technological challenges: we demonstrate a surface-emitting laser, based on III-V semiconductor technology with an integrated metasurface, generating vortex-like coherent state in the Laguerre-Gauss basis. We use a first order phase perturbation to lift orbital degeneracy of wavefunctions, by introducing a weak anisotropy called here “orbital birefringence”, based on a dielectric metasurface. The azimuthal symmetry breakdown and non-linear laser dynamics create “orbital gain dichroism” allowing selecting vortex handedness. This coherent photonic device was characterized and studied, experimentally and theoretically. It exhibits a low divergence (<1°) diffraction limited beam, emitting 49 mW output power in the near-IR at λ ≃ 1 μm, a charge l = ±1, … ±4 (>50 dB vortex purity), and single frequency operation in a stable low noise regime (0.1% rms). Such high performance laser opens the path to widespread new photonic applications.
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Kim DJ, Kim JW. Direct generation of an optical vortex beam in a single-frequency Nd:YVO4 laser. OPTICS LETTERS 2015; 40:399-402. [PMID: 25680057 DOI: 10.1364/ol.40.000399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
A simple method for generating a Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) mode optical vortex beam with well-determined handedness in a single-frequency solid state laser end-pumped by a ring-shaped pump beam is reported. After investigating the intensity profile and the wavefront helicity of each longitudinal mode output to understand generation of the LG mode in a Nd:YVO4 laser resonator, selection of the wavefront handedness has been achieved simply by inserting and tilting an etalon in the resonator, which breaks the propagation symmetry of the Poynting vectors with opposite helicity. Simple calculation and the experimental results are discussed for supporting this selection mechanism.
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Ding Y, Xu M, Zhao Y, Yu H, Zhang H, Wang Z, Wang J. Thermally driven continuous-wave and pulsed optical vortex. OPTICS LETTERS 2014; 39:2366-2369. [PMID: 24978994 DOI: 10.1364/ol.39.002366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrated a continuous-wave (cw) and pulsed optical vortex with topological charges driven by heat generated during the lasing process without introducing the astigmatism effect and reducing lasing efficiency. During the lasing process, the topological charges were changeable by the thermal-induced lens and selected by the mode-matching between the pump and oscillating beams. With a graphene sample as the saturable absorber, a pulsed optical vortex was achieved at a wavelength of 1.36 μm, which identified that graphene could be used as a pulse modulator for the generation of a pulsed optical vortex. Thermally driven cw and pulsed optical vortexes should have various promising applications based on the compact structure, changeable topological charges, and specific wavelength.
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