Abstract

Here we investigate nonlinear optical effects in an atomic gas with a LG₀₃ donut beam. The LG₀₃ donut beam was produced with a Ti: sapphire laser using a computer-generated holograra.¹ The nonlinear medium was Rb atomic vapor in a cylindrical Pyrex cell 10 cm long and 2.5 cm in diameter, heated to approximately 120°C. The power of the donut beam at the cell window was 450 mW. By tuning the laser frequency close to the Rb atomic D₂ line at 780.1 nm, we obtained resonant enhancement of the nonlinearity.

© 1998 Optical Society of America