Numerical study for selective excitation of Mathieu-Gauss modes in end-pumped solid-state laser systems

This study reports a possible first systematic approach to the selective excitations of all Mathieu-Gauss modes (MGMs) in end-pumped solid-state lasers with a new kind of axicon-based stable laser resonator. The study classifies MGMs into two categories, and explores and verifies the approach to excite each MGM category using numerical simulations. Controlling both the cavity mode gain and the cavity conical asymmetry of the axicon-based stable laser resonator achieves the proposed selective MGM-excitation approach. (C)2011 Optical Society of America