Efficient selection of high-order Laguerre-Gaussian modes in a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser

Author

Ishaaya, Amiel A. ; Davidson, Nir ; Machavariani, Galina ; Hasman, Erez ; Friesem, Asher A.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Phys. of Complex Syst., Weizmann Inst. of Sci., Israel

Volume

39

Issue

1

fYear

2003

fDate

1/1/2003 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

74

Lastpage

82

Abstract

Intra-cavity binary phase elements are incorporated into a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser resonator to obtain efficient high-order transverse mode selection. The resonator configuration is analyzed using the propagation-matrix diagonalization method and the Fox-Li algorithm, and a simple model for predicting the relative output powers of the selected modes is developed. The predicted results are verified experimentally with binary phase elements for selecting the TEM₀₁, TEM₀₂ and TEM₀₃, degenerate Laguerre-Gaussian modes. The output energy per pulse was 15 mJ for the TEM₀₁, 16.5 mJ for TEM₀₂ and 18.3 mJ for TEM₀₃, all higher than the 10 mJ for the TEM₀₀. The performance in Q-switched operation was found to be similar to that in free-running operation. The numerical calculations, experimental procedure and experimental results are presented.

Keywords

Q-switching; laser accessories; laser cavity resonators; laser modes; laser theory; matrix algebra; neodymium; solid lasers; 10 mJ; 15 mJ; 16.5 mJ; 18.3 mJ; Fox-Li algorithm; Q-switched Nd:YAG laser; YAG:Nd; YAl5O12:Nd; degenerate Laguerre-Gaussian modes; free-running operation; high-order Laguerre-Gaussian modes selection; intra-cavity binary phase elements; laser resonator; output energy; propagation-matrix diagonalization method; relative output powers; resonator configuration; Apertures; Laser beams; Laser modes; Mirrors; Neodymium; Optical propagation; Optical resonators; Power generation; Predictive models; Solid lasers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JQE.2002.806164

Filename

1158808