Fine-tuning of orbital angular momentum in an optical parametric oscillator

Abstract

We investigate the dynamical properties of a type-II optical parametric oscillator pumped by a structured light beam carrying orbital angular momentum. Different dynamical regimes are theoretically derived and experimentally demonstrated, depending on the anisotropy effects imposed by the nonlinear medium. In a weakly anisotropic regime, fine-tuning of the orbital angular momentum transfer is obtained by adjusting the crystal parameters. Under strong anisotropy, orbital angular momentum transfer is not possible and a sharp dynamical behavior is observed, with abrupt switching between different transverse modes.