Controlling mode competition by tailoring the spatial pump distribution in a laser: A resonance-based approach

TL;DR

This paper presents a resonance-based method to control mode competition in continuous wave lasers by optimizing the spatial pump distribution, enabling tailored multi-mode or single-mode laser emission with minimal computational effort.

Contribution

It introduces a simplified, efficient theoretical approach using passive cavity resonances to optimize pump profiles for desired laser mode control.

Findings

The method effectively predicts mode competition outcomes.

Optimized pump profiles can enhance single-mode or multi-mode operation.

Open source implementation facilitates adoption and further research.

Abstract

We introduce a simplified version of the steady-state ab initio laser theory for calculating the effects of mode competition in continuous wave lasers using the passive cavity resonances. This new theory harnesses widely available numerical methods that can efficiently calculate the passive cavity resonances, with negligible additional computational overhead. Using this theory, we demonstrate that the pump profile of the laser cavity can be optimized both for highly multi-mode and single-mode emission. An open source implementation of this method has been made available.