Laser beam shape converter using spatially variable waveplate made by nanogratings inscription in fused silica

Titas Gertus; Andrejus Michailovas; K. Michailovas; V. Petrauskienė

doi:10.1117/12.2075869

3 March 2015 Laser beam shape converter using spatially variable waveplate made by nanogratings inscription in fused silica

Titas Gertus, Andrejus Michailovas, K. Michailovas, V. Petrauskienė

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9343, Laser Resonators, Microresonators, and Beam Control XVII; 93431S (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2075869
Event: SPIE LASE, 2015, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

In this work we present a beam shaping technique based on a spatially variable phase retardation plate inscribed inside bulk of fused silica glass by femtosecond laser pulses. Formation of self-assembled periodic nanostructures was exploited to fabricate the converter. During the fabrication process we control induced nanogratings orientation and retardance. Combination of a spatially variable waveplate and a polarizer acts as a spatially variable transmission filter. With a converter fabricated to transform an initially Gaussian beam to a flat-top beam we preserve more than 50% of initial laser power. Theoretically, the efficiency of the proposed converter could be up to 70%. The proposed converter with no absorbing elements possesses resistance to optical damage similar to that of fused silica. Additionally, the already-fabricated converter allows for on-the-fly adjustment of the beam shape from flat-top to a shape with a dip in the middle. The shaped beam was tested in a high power picosecond pulse amplifier.

Citation Download Citation

Titas Gertus, Andrejus Michailovas, K. Michailovas, and V. Petrauskienė "Laser beam shape converter using spatially variable waveplate made by nanogratings inscription in fused silica", Proc. SPIE 9343, Laser Resonators, Microresonators, and Beam Control XVII, 93431S (3 March 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2075869

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