Amplification of higher-order Laguerre-Gaussian modes using a dual-pass MOPA system

Abstract

Structured light beams that are tailored for purpose have found a myriad of applications, from improved efficiency of laser-based industrial manufacturing processes to enhanced bandwidth in optical communication. While the selection of such modes is readily achievable at low powers (<100 mW) with external shaping devices, creating and controlling structured light at higher powers (>1 W) has proven to be a non-trivial task, particularly if dynamic control is required. Here we demonstrate the power amplification of low-power higher-order Laguerre-Gaussian modes using a novel in-line dual-pass master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA). The amplifier, operating at a wavelength of 1064 nm, consists of a polarization-based interferometer that alleviates parasitic lasing effects. Through our approach we demonstrate a gain factor of up to 17×, corresponding to an overall enhancement of 300% in amplification compared to a single-pass output configuration while preserving the beam quality of the input mode. These findings are confirmed computationally using a three-dimensional split-step model and show excellent agreement with the experimental data.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Structured High-Order but Single Laguerre–Gauss LGp0 Laser Beams

“…This can be achieved by inserting inside the laser cavity a mask made up of absorbing rings [13] or a BDOE such as that described by Equation (19) [9,10,70]. Another possibility could be to transform a Gaussian beam into a LG p0 beam by using an SLM and then carrying out efficient amplification [71]. It will be interesting to extend the study of intensity and gradient distributions with other structured laser beams such as Bessel-Gauss beams and generalised Laguerre-Gauss beams, which have attractive properties [72].…”