Abstract

We demonstrate an efficient method for transformation of a radially polarized Laguerre–Gaussian beam to a nearly Gaussian beam with much higher beam quality. The method is based on separation of the radially polarized mode into two degenerate modes and coherent addition of the modes after phase flattening. We transformed a high-power Nd:YAG radially polarized ${(0,1)}^{*}$ Laguerre–Gaussian beam with $M^2=2.52$ and power of $30\mathrm{W}$ into a nearly Gaussian beam with $M^2=1.3$. As a result, the brightness increased by a factor of $\sim 2.5$.

© 2007 Optical Society of America

Efficient extracavity generation of radially and azimuthally polarized beams

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