title: Femtosecond spatial pulse shaping at the focal plane.
abstract: Spatial shaping of ultrashort laser beams at the focal plane is theoretically analyzed. The description of the pulse is performed by its expansion in terms of Laguerre-Gaussian orthonormal modes. This procedure gives both a comprehensive interpretation of the propagation dynamics and the required signal to encode onto a spatial light modulator for spatial shaping, without using iterative algorithms. As an example, pulses with top-hat and annular spatial profiles are designed and their dynamics analyzed. The interference of top-hat pulses is also investigated finding potential applications in high precision pump-probe experiments (without using delay lines) and for the creation of subwavelength ablation patterns. In addition, a novel class of ultrashort pulses possessing non-stationary orbital angular momentum is also proposed. These exotic pulses provide additional degrees of freedom that open up new perspectives in fields such as laser-matter interaction and micro-machining.
authors.forename: Ó
authors.initials: Ó
authors.lastname: Martínez-Matos
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vaveliuk
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Izquierdo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Loriot