Doctoral Degrees (Physics)

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Novel implementation of a phase-only spatial light modulator for laser beam shaping
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-03) Burger, Liesl; Forbes, Andrew; Litvin, Igor; Rohwer, Erich G.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Physics
ENGLISH ABSTRACT : The phase-only spatial light modulator (SLM) has revolutionized the field of laser beam shaping. In this thesis we describe in detail the considerations necessary to build a “digital laser” which incorporates an SLM into a laser cavity as an intracavity element to dynamically generate a wide variety of custom beams. We then present a theoretical analysis of the healing of petal-like (or Laguerre-Gaussian) beams using rotational considerations, and using digital laser technology to demonstrate this healing experimentally. We extend our investigation into self-healing beams with the theoretical derivation of a new type of Bessellike beams, which retains a concentric ring structure on propagation, and which self-heal axially. These beams are generated using an SLM, and self-healing is demonstrated experimentally.