Polygonal Vortex Beams

Abstract

We originally exploit the vortex beams with patterns of closed polygons [namely, polygonal vortex beams (PVBs)] generated by a quasi-frequency-degenerate (QFD) Yb:CALGO laser resonator with astigmatic transformation. The PVBs with peculiar patterns of triangular, square, and parallelogram shapes carrying large orbital angular momentums (OAMs) are theoretically investigated and experimentally obtained in the vicinity of the SU(2) degenerate states of laser resonator. The PVBs in QFD states are distinct from the vortex beams with patterns of isolated spots arrays located on the triangle-, square-, and parallelogram-shaped routes [namely, polygonal-spots-array vortex beams (PSA-VBs)] under normal SU(2) degenerate states. Beam profile shape of PVB or PSA-VB and OAM can be controlled by adjusting the cavity length and the position of pump spot. The simulated and experimental results validate the performance of our method to generate PVB, which is of great potential for developing applications such as particle trapping and manipulation.