The self-reconstruction of superpositions of Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) beams has been observed experimentally, but the results appear anomalous and without a means to predict under what conditions this take place. In this Letter, we offer a simple equation for predicting the self-reconstruction distance of superpositions of LG beams, which we confirm by numerical propagation as well as by experiment. We explain that the self-reconstruction process is not guaranteed and predict its dependence on the obstacle location and obstacle size.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCustomizing the output beam shape from a laser invariably involves specialized optical elements in the form of apertures, diffractive optics and free-form mirrors. Such optics require considerable design and fabrication effort and suffer from the further disadvantage of being immutably connected to the selection of a particular spatial mode. Here we overcome these limitations with the first digital laser comprising an electrically addressed reflective phase-only spatial light modulator as an intra-cavity digitally addressed holographic mirror.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe apply a new method of modeling Porro prism resonators, using the concept of rotating loss screens, to study stable and unstable Porro prism resonator. We show that the previously observed petal--like modal output is in fact only the lowest order mode, and reveal that a variety of kaleidoscope beam modes will be produced by these resonators when the intra--cavity apertures are sufficiently large to allow higher order modes to oscillate. We also show that only stable resonators will produce these modes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA new approach to modeling the spatial intensity profile from Porro prism resonators is proposed based on rotating loss screens to mimic the apex losses of the prisms. A numerical model based on this approach is presented which correctly predicts the output transverse field distribution found experimentally from such resonators.
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