Generation of doughnut laser beams by use of a liquid-crystal cell with a conversion efficiency near 100%
- 1 August 2002
- journal article
- Published by Optica Publishing Group in Optics Letters
- Vol. 27 (15) , 1351-1353
- https://doi.org/10.1364/ol.27.001351
Abstract
We present a novel technique for producing a doughnut laser beam by use of a liquid-crystal cell. It is demonstrated that the liquid-crystal cell exhibits an efficiency in energy conversion near 100%. One of the main advantages of this method is its capability of dynamic switching between a Gaussian mode and a doughnut mode of different topological charges. The liquid-crystal cell is also dynamically tunable over the visible and near-infrared wavelength range. These advantages make the device appealing for laser trapping methods used in single-molecule biomechanics and for optical guiding of cold atoms.Keywords
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