In this paper we explore vortex beams and in particular the generation of single LG_0l modes and superpositions thereof. Vortex beams carry orbital angular momentum (OAM) and this intrinsic property makes them prevalent in transferring this OAM to matter and to be used in quantum information processing. We explore an extra-cavity and intra-cavity approach in LG_0l mode generation respectively. The outputs of a Porro-prism resonator are represented by "petals" and we show that through a full modal decomposition, the "petal" fields are a superposition of two LG^0l modes.

Date Published: 7 September 2011
PDF: 10 pages
Proc. SPIE 8130, Laser Beam Shaping XII, 813009 (7 September 2011); doi: 10.1117/12.902330

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8130:
Laser Beam Shaping XII
Andrew Forbes; Todd E. Lizotte, Editor(s)