Transverse Mode Selection in Resonator with a Super-Gaussian Aperture

Abstract

It is shown that the use of a super-Gaussian aperture of order five to ten for fundamental mode selection in plano-concave cavity gives better results (1) than for a Gaussian aperture for its lower TEM₀₀ mode losses and, (2) than a hard aperture for its smoothing edge effects yielding more regular TEM₀₀ mode profiles. Explicit results are given in hard and soft aperture cases for the transverse mode discrimination and fundamental mode losses.