Three-mirror resonator with aspheric feedback mirror for laser spatial mode selection and mode shaping

Author

Yang, Zhaohui H. ; Leger, James R. ; Shchegrov, Andrei V.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

Volume

40

Issue

9

fYear

2004

Firstpage

1258

Lastpage

1269

Abstract

The spatial-mode characteristics are studied for a three-mirror resonator consisting of a diffractive aspheric third mirror aligned collinearly with a standing-wave two-mirror resonator. Simulations predict that enhanced spatial-mode selection and mode shaping can be achieved by this three-mirror cavity. A three-mirror Nd:YVO₄ solid-state laser with an optimized aspheric third mirror has been designed and implemented to oscillate in a designed fundamental Gaussian mode. The modal discrimination was measured to be 1.43 and the propagation factor M² was 1.02.

Keywords

aspherical optics; diffractive optical elements; laser beams; laser cavity resonators; laser mirrors; laser modes; neodymium; optical design techniques; optical feedback; solid lasers; Nd:YVO₄solid-state laser; YVO₄:Nd; aspheric feedback mirror; diffractive aspheric third mirror; fundamental Gaussian mode; laser spatial mode selection; laser spatial mode shaping; modal discrimination; propagation factor; three-mirror resonator; Laser feedback; Laser modes; Mirrors; Optical design; Optical feedback; Optical resonators; Semiconductor lasers; Solid lasers; Surface emitting lasers; Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers; Coupled mode analysis; diffractive optics; laser beam shaping; laser modes; laser resonators; mode discrimination; optical feedback; optical phase conjugation; solid-state lasers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JQE.2004.833231

Filename

1327775