We determine the Wigner distribution of a laser experimentally from intensity profiles obtained by moving slit technology. In order to find out whether the phase calculated from a measured Wigner distribution can be trusted, we add a known spherical aberration to a Helium Noen laser by a plan-convex collimating lens orientated "the wrong way." The magnitude of the aberration can be influenced by the beam diameter at the lens. The M2-values calculated from the Wigner distribution of the aberrated beam at different levels of aberration is in agreement with theory. The coefficient of spherical aberration obtained from the measurement agrees with the one predicted by aberration theory if the impact of the aberration on the beam profiles is large enough (M2 > 1.2). The Wigner distribution of a tapered semiconductor laser is also examined. The measured phase at the semiconductor facet is aberrated. The aberration however can not be identified to origin from exit of the beam from high index semiconductor to air through a planar interface.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.