Handedness control of watt-level 1173 nm vortex mode output from a self-Raman Nd:GdVO4 laser

Abstract

We demonstrate, for the first time of the best of our knowledge, the handedness control of a continuous-wave 1173 nm optical vortex output from a self-Raman Nd:GdVO4 laser by employing an off-axis pumping geometry. Maximum vortex output of over 1.2 W was achieved.