Observation of new modal patterns in experiments with Hermite-Gaussian and Laguerre-Gaussian laser modes

K. Contreras; Guillermo Baldwin-Olguin; F. De Zela; Enrique J. Galvez

doi:10.1117/12.590584

21 October 2004 Observation of new modal patterns in experiments with Hermite-Gaussian and Laguerre-Gaussian laser modes

K. Contreras, Guillermo Baldwin-Olguin, F. De Zela, Enrique J. Galvez

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 5622, 5th Iberoamerican Meeting on Optics and 8th Latin American Meeting on Optics, Lasers, and Their Applications; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.590584
Event: 5th Iberoamerican Meeting on Optics and 8th Latin American Meeting on Optics, Lasers, and Their Applications, 2004, Porlamar, Venezuela

Abstract

We present several experiments that allow us to show the intensity and phase structure of transverse modal patterns, Hermite-Gaussian and Laguerre-Gaussian laser modes and dynamical transverse patterns. These new spatial configurations of the light depend on the dynamics of laser resonator, and on the boundary conditions. The Laguerre-Gaussian modes are obtained either by the direct conversion of Hermite-Gaussian modes using a modal converter or with a computer-generated hologram. The modal coverter is based on a cavity of cylindrical lenses. We analyze the phase structure and optical phase singularities of laser modes with a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The resulting interference patterns clearly illustrate the azimuthal phase dependence of the Laguerre-Gaussian modes, which is the origin of the orbital angular momentum associated with each one of them. Moreover, we try to give an explanation of the new modal patterns observed.

Citation Download Citation

K. Contreras, Guillermo Baldwin-Olguin, F. De Zela, and Enrique J. Galvez "Observation of new modal patterns in experiments with Hermite-Gaussian and Laguerre-Gaussian laser modes", Proc. SPIE 5622, 5th Iberoamerican Meeting on Optics and 8th Latin American Meeting on Optics, Lasers, and Their Applications, (21 October 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.590584

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