Generation of low-order Laguerre-Gaussian beams using hybrid-machined reflective spiral phase plates for intense laser-plasma interactions.

• High-quality low-order Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) vortex beams from large-sized off-axis reflective spiral phase plates (ORSPPs) were obtained. • By performing 3D electro-magnetic wave simulations, the designs of ORSPPs were validated. • Stepped and continuous ORSPPs were manufactured by hybrid mechanical processing. • The uniformity of annular beam shape of LG vortex beams were analyzed by comparing the continuously and stepped ORSPPs. • 3D particle-in-cell simulations on the high-intensity angular momentum transfer were investigated as one of the main applications of low-order LG vortex laser pulses. In laser-plasma interactions (LPI), the laser beam mode is a critical parameter when trying to explore new physical phenomena. Of the various spatial beam modes, the Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) mode with vortex phase has attracted considerable attention due to its unique features, including the ability to carry an orbital angular momentum. Due to this, it has been actively applied to LPI, which mainly utilize ultrashort intense laser pulses. However, existing transmissive phase-manipulating optical elements have several limitations when applied in LPI due to critical issues such as pulse broadening, attenuation, and beam shape–all of which have an influence on the beam quality, as well as, geometry, size, simplicity, and cost–all of which are related to processing technologies. In this paper, we present a series of procedures to obtain high-quality low-order (l = 1 and 2) LG vortex beams from large-sized off-axis reflective spiral phase plates (ORSPPs). The geometric designs for various surface structures, electromagnetic wave simulations in the extra-large domain, hybrid-mechanical processing technique attempted newly, and experimental demonstrations are involved. Experimental observations of LG intensity distributions and interference fringes were verified with the simulation results of Poynting vector, phase, and angular momentum densities. The beam quality of LG intensity distributions was analyzed quantitatively through the investigation of an annular zone formed from the uniformity of the stepped and continuous surface structures of ORSPPs. Furthermore, we numerically investigated the physical phenomena on the high-intensity angular momentum transfer from light to matter, considering ORSPP–driven low-order LG vortex laser pulses, by performing 3D particle-in-cell simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]