Generation of high-order Laguerre-Gaussian modes by means of spiral phase plates

Spiral phase plates for the generation of Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) beam with non-null radial index were designed and fabricated by electron beam lithography on polymethylmethacrylate over glass substrates. The optical response of these phase optical elements was theoretically considered and experimentally measured, and the purity of the experimental beams was investigated in terms of LG modes contributions. The far-field intensity pattern was compared with theoretical models and numerical simulations, whereas interferometric analyses confirmed the expected phase features of the generated beams. The high quality of the output beams confirms the applicability of these phase plates for the generation of high-order LG beams. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America