  A rapid and efficient method for generating laser beams with controlled
intensity, phase and coherence distributions is presented. It is based on a
degenerate cavity laser in which a digital phase-only spatial light modulator
is incorporated. We show that a variety of unique and high-resolution shaped
laser beams can be generated with either a low or a high spatial coherence. We
also show that by controlling the phase, intensity and coherence distributions,
a laser beam can be efficiently reshaped after propagation.
