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Title

Generation of doughnut laser beams by use of a liquid-crystal cell with a conversion efficiency near 100%

Author(s)

Gan, Xiaosong;  Ganic, Djenan;  Gu, Min;  Hain, Mathias;  Somalingam, Somakanthan;  Stankovic, Svetomir;  Tschudi, Theo

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.

Publication type

Journal article

Research centre

Swinburne University of Technology. School of Biophysical Science and Electrical Engineering

Source

Optics Letters, Vol. 27, no. 15 (2002), pp. pp. 1351-1353

Publication year

2002

FOR Code(s)

0205 Optical Physics;  0903 Biomedical Engineering;  1113 Ophthalmology and Optometry

Publisher

Optical Society of America

ISSN

0146-9592

Publisher URL

http://ol.osa.org/abstract.cfm?id=69509

Copyright

Copyright © 2002 Optical Society of America. Published version of the paper reproduced here in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. This paper was published in Optics Express and is made available as an electronic reprint with the permission of OSA. The paper can be found at the following URL on the OSA website: http://ol.osa.org/abstract.cfm?id=69509. Systematic or multiple reproduction or distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means is prohibited and is subject to penalties under law.

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