Universal generation of higher-order multiringed Laguerre-Gaussian beams by using a spatial light modulator

Abstract

Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) beams of various higher-order radial modes are generated by using a reflective phase-only liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) spatial light modulator (SLM). Because of the LCOS SLM's phase-modulation characteristic of a wide spatial bandwidth, a phase modulation scheme effectively generates higher-order LG beams of up to the fifth-order radial mode. We also perform correlation analyses between the observed and the theoretical two-dimensional mode profiles to universally obtain correlation coefficients of more than 0.946, which suggest mode generations of high quality.