Ultrafast optical vortex beam generation in the ultraviolet

We report on the generation of ultrafast vortex beams in the deep ultraviolet (DUV) wavelength range at 266 nm, for the first time to our knowledge. Using a Yb-fiber-based green source in combination with two spiral phase plates of orders 1 and 2, we were able to generate picosecond Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) beams at 532 nm. Subsequently, these LG beams were frequency doubled by single-pass, second-harmonic generation in a 10 mm-long β-BaB<inf>2</inf>O<inf>4</inf> crystal to generate ultrafast vortex beams at 266 nm with a vortex order as high as 12, providing up to 383 mW of DUV power at a single-pass, green-to-DUV conversion efficiency of 5.2%. The generated picosecond UV vortex beam has a spectral width of 1.02 nm with a passive power stability better than 1.2% rms over >1.5 h.