Standard and elegant higher-order Laguerre-Gaussian correlated Schell-model beams

Abstract

To date, all of the Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) correlated Schell-model beams proposed and studied are restricted to the standard form with the beam mode indices (0, l), termed as a SLG(0l)CSM beam. We propose, for the first time, the elegant and standard higher-order LG correlated Schell-model beams as an extension to a SLG(0l)CSM beam. We develop theoretical formulae to determine the beam mode indices of a vortex beam and describe propagation effects of such beams. We demonstrate that by controlling the beam mode indices, one can produce different intensity distribution patterns during propagation, for example, a dark or solid core surrounded by bright concentric rings. Moreover, using our proposed beams, we illustrate how single-layer and multi-layer adjustable optical cages can be formed near the back of the focal zone of a lens. As anticipated, the proposed beams may find important applications in particle trapping, optical manipulation and optical communications.