Generation of Mathieu-Gauss modes with an axicon-based laser resonator

We report what is to our best knowledge the first observation of Mathieu–Gauss modes directly generated in an axicon-based stable resonator. By slightly breaking the symmetry of the cavity we were able to generate single lowest and high-order Mathieu–Gauss modes of high quality. The observed transverse modes have an inherent elliptic structure and exhibit remarkable agreement with theoretical predictions.