Creation of a hollow laser beam using self-phase modulation in a nematic liquid crystal

We present a simple method to convert a Gaussian laser beam into an annular beam using a homeotropically oriented nematic liquid crystal. The method allows creation of a beam with sub-millimeter diameter and a width of a few tens of microns for a propagation distance of more than 10 mm. High spatial...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Optics communications 2004-03, Vol.232 (1), p.77-82
Main Authors: Shevchenko, A., Buchter, S.C., Tabiryan, N.V., Kaivola, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Beam characteristics: profile, intensity, and power
spatial pattern formation
Beam trapping, self-focusing and defocusing
self-phase modulation
Beam trapping, self-focusing, and thermal blooming
Exact sciences and technology
Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications)
Hollow laser beams
Laser optical systems: design and operation
Nematic liquid crystals
Nonlinear optics
Optics
Physics
Self-phase modulation
Wave optics
Wave propagation, transmission and absorption
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Description
Summary:We present a simple method to convert a Gaussian laser beam into an annular beam using a homeotropically oriented nematic liquid crystal. The method allows creation of a beam with sub-millimeter diameter and a width of a few tens of microns for a propagation distance of more than 10 mm. High spatial gradients in the radial intensity distribution make the beams promising for use in atom trapping and guiding.
ISSN:0030-4018
1873-0310
DOI:10.1016/j.optcom.2004.01.010