Generation of a high-power radially polarized beam

Abstract

Radially polarized radiation 1.8 kW was first obtained in an industrial high-power CO2-laser. Special reflective elements with axial polarization selectivity 22% were used as rear mirror in the laser. The output radiation consisted mainly of an unpolarized mode TEM00 and a radially polarized mode R-TEM01*. The maximum degree of polarization of the beam measured in the far and near field was about 80% and 90% correspondingly.