DPSSL with 2D Intracavity Beam Scanning Using Liquid Crystal Spatial Light Modulators

Abstract

The laser beam spatial distribution control can be obtained by the placing a Spatial Light Modulator (SLM) inside a special laser cavity. The opened pixels of the SLM determine the generating modes configuration (such SLM can be called "driven mirror"). The earlier works [1,2] has shown the possibility to obtain output energy level of solid-state scanning laser of several Joules on Q-switch operation, and high speed of scanning. At the same time, 2D random-addressing of laser beam by the single computer-driven SLM unit was the problem unsolved.