Numerical investigation on the generation of high-order Laguerre-Gaussian beams in end-pumped solid-state lasers by introducing loss control

This paper reports a robust and systematic approach to generate high-order scalar Laguerre-Gaussian (LG(p),(l)) beams in end-pumped solid-state lasers by introducing loss control. Based on the spatial distributions of Laguerre-Gaussian modes and the theory of transverse mode selection, the loss control is implemented by an amplitude mask in the resonator. This proposed mechanism can be divided into three categories: radial loss, azimuthal loss, and the combination of radial and azimuthal loss, which correspond to excite radial high-order modes (LG(p,0)), azimuthal high-order modes (LG(0,l)), and regular high-order modes (LG(p,l)), respectively. By controlling the locations and thicknesses of opaque rings and lines on the mask, all kinds of LG(p,l) modes can be obtained. With the application of mode purity, all the generated modes possess high mode purities greater than 93% in simulation. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America