Abstract

In order to change phase distributions of laser beams in laser beam forming, wave front correction, mode selection of laser cavities and so on, phase-changing elements are very important. Mirrors or lenses with the same surface profile as the desired phase distributions are very attractive as such phase-changing elements because their energy losses are inherently very small. They would be very suitable as optical elements for high-power lasers if such complex mirrors or lenses surfaces could be fabricated. Although we have already reported on the fabricated mirror for beam forming, its surface profile was axisymmetric.¹

© 1996 Optical Society of America