Robust high-order petal-mode laser with tunable topological charge pumped by an axicon-based annular beam

Abstract

In this work, we demonstrate a watt-level laser producing high-order, petal-shaped output modes with tunable topological charge, by using an axicon-based divergent annular pump beam. The topological charge of the output beam could be varied in the range of 34–72 by adjusting the position of the Nd:YVO4 crystal relative to the focal plane of the pump beam. The highest order petal-mode beam generated from the system had a topological charge of 72 and a power of 1.3 W. The highest output power up to 2.1 W with a topological charge of 34 was achieved at an absorbed pump power of 5.8 W. The generated output modes were observed to be robust under power scaling and on propagation, with the same spatial profiles being maintained in the near- and far-fields. We anticipate that this system design may find use as a laser source in applications such as 3D optical trapping, fabrication of optical vortex arrays, optical communications, and high-sensitivity spatial measurement.