Modelling with higher-order modes

If you are not familiar with spatial Higher Order Modes (HOMs) then you should read the Higher-order Hermite-Gauss modes section of the manual. This will provide you with the background physics details for understanding the terms and examples in these pages.

These pages will focus on how to use the features of Finesse for modelling HOMs, links to the physics behind each feature are given where appropriate.

• Selecting the modes to model
  • Maximum TEM order
  • Selection method
  • Assigning to modes property
  • Including additional modes
  • A note on specifying mode indices explicitly
• Defining the modal basis
  • Using cavity objects
  • Defining manual beam parameters
  • Remove a manual beam parameter or cavity
  • Defining manual beam parameters with the Python API
• Creating and detecting mode mismatches
  • Defining a figure of merit
  • Creating a custom mismatch
  • Detecting mode mismatches
  • Trace priority
• Capturing beam images with camera objects
  • Detecting a single pixel
  • Capturing a full beam image
  • Producing animated beam images
• Beam propagation
  • The ‘propagate_beam’ function
  • Symbolic beam propagation
  • Reverse beam propagation
• Computing arbitrary scattering matrices
  • Calculating coupling matrices via the Bayer-Helms formalism
• Adding spatial defects with maps
  • The map object
  • Optical path depths
  • Quadratic lensing with maps (What not to do)
  • Mirror surface maps
  • How Bayer-Helms and map contributions are combined