Generating hypergeometric laser beams with a diffractive optical element

We derive explicit analytical relations to describe paraxial light beams that represent a particular case of the hypergeometric (HyG) laser beams [J.Opt. Soc. Am. A 25, 262-270 (2008)]. Among these are modified quadratic Bessel-Gaussian beams, hollow Gaussian optical vortices, modified elegant Laguerre-Gaussian beams, and gamma-HyG beams. Using e-beam microlithography, a binary diffractive optical element capable of producing near-HyG beams is synthesized. Theory and experiment are in sufficient agreement. We experimentally demonstrate the ability to rotate dielectric microparticles using the bright diffraction ring of a HyG beam. (c) 2008 Optical Society of America