Publication
Shaping the light beam is always essential for laser technology and its applications. Among the shaping technologies, shaping the laser in its Fourier domain is a widely used and effective method, such as a pulse shaper, or a 4f system with a phase mask or an iris in between. Orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes spectrum, the Fourier transform of the light field in azimuth, provides a perspective for shaping the light. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a shaping strategy for the azimuthal field by modulating the complex amplitude of the OAM mode spectrum. The scheme utilizes multi-plane light conversion technology and consists only of a spatial light modulator and a mirror. Multiple functions, including beam rotating, beam splitting/combining in azimuth, and OAM mode filtering, are demonstrated. Our work provides a compact and programmable solution for modulating the OAM mode spectrum and shaping beams in azimuth.