title: Exciting higher-order radial Laguerre-Gaussian modes in a diode-pumped solid-state laser resonator.
abstract: In this paper we experimentally demonstrate the intracavity generation of selected Laguerre-Gaussian modes of variable radial order, from 0 to 5. Our technique requires only an amplitude mask made up of absorbing rings to be placed inside the cavity, with the ring radii selected to coincide with the zeros of the desired Laguerre-Gaussian mode. We demonstrate high mode purity and a mode volume proportional to the order of the mode. Our results suggest a possible route to high brightness diode-pumped solid-state laser sources.
authors.affiliation: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, National Laser Centre, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Sandile
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ngcobo
authors.forename: Kamel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aït-Ameur
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Passilly
authors.forename: Abdelkrim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hasnaoui
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Forbes