The Poynting Vector In Laguerre-Gaussian Laser Modes

Abstract

It is found that the rotation of the Poynting vector of a Laguerre-Gaussian laser mode is proportional to the Gouy phase and for most cases of interest, rotates through less than one revolution in reaching the far field. For a p=0 mode, we show the expression for the rotation is particularly simple and independent of l. At the radius corresponding to maximum intensity, it yields a rotation of only +/- pi/2 as z--> +/- (infinity).