Controlled experimental generation of perturbed high-order Ince–Gaussian laser modes

Abstract

We present an experimental approach for generating perturbed high-order Ince–Gaussian laser modes by transforming the low and moderate-intensity lobes of high-order Ince–Gaussian (IG) modes into high-intensity lobes and vice versa. This perturbation reshuffles optical energy among the different lobes and generates new, to the best of our knowledge, modulated Ince–Gaussian (MIG) modes. Computer-generated holograms displayed over spatial light modulators were used to modulate the IGMs. Compared to IG modes, MIG modes are generated precisely in a sense that enhances the IG modes and provides a maximum number of highly intense lobes in a particular mode. That enables the newly generated MIG modes to be utilized more efficiently than IG modes in applications such as particle manipulation and optical trapping of microparticles, which exploit highly intense lobes.