Conditions for optical parametric oscillation with structured light pump

TL;DR

This paper explores how the spatial structure of a pump beam influences the transverse modes and oscillation thresholds in a type-II optical parametric oscillator, combining theoretical analysis with experimental validation.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of mode selection rules based on spatial overlap, revealing a hierarchy of oscillation thresholds in structured-light driven OPOs.

Findings

Confirmed the mode selection rules experimentally.

Identified a hierarchy of oscillation thresholds.

Demonstrated control of transverse modes via pump structure.

Abstract

We investigate the transverse mode structure of the down-converted beams generated by a type-II optical parametric oscillator (OPO) driven by a structured pump. Our analysis focus on the selection rules imposed by the spatial overlap between the transverse modes of the three fields involved in the non-linear interaction. These rules imply a hierarchy of oscillation thresholds that determine the possible transverse modes generated by the OPO, as remarkably confirmed with experimental results.