Wavelength-versatile optical vortex lasers. (20th November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Omatsu, Takashige; Miyamoto, Katsuhiko; Lee, Andrew J
• Is Part Of: Journal of optics. Volume 19:Number 12(2017:Dec.)
• Publication Date: 2017-11-20
• Subjects: optical vortex -- nonlinear optics -- singular optics; Optics -- Periodicals; 535.05
• DOI: 10.1088/2040-8986/aa9445
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-8978

Abstract

Abstract: The unique properties of optical vortex beams, in particular their spiral wavefront, have resulted in the emergence of a wide range of unique applications for this type of laser output. These applications include optical tweezing, free space optical communications, microfabrication, environmental optics, and astrophysics. However, much like the laser in its infancy, the adaptation of this type of laser output requires a diversity of wavelengths. We report on recent progress on development of optical vortex laser sources and in particular, focus on their wavelength extension, where nonlinear optical processes have been used to generate vortex laser beams with wavelengths which span the ultraviolet to infrared. We show that nonlinear optical conversion can be used to not only diversify the output wavelength of these sources, but can be used to uniquely engineer the wavefront and spatial properties of the laser output.