Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

The Generation of Higher-order Laguerre-Gauss Optical Beams for High-precision Interferometry
Published on: August 12, 2013
Atmospheric turbulence and orbital angular momentum of single photons for optical communication
1The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BW, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
The effects of propagation through random aberrations on coherence for single-photon communication systems based on orbital angular momentum states are quantified. A rotational coherence function is derived which leads to scattering equations for azimuthal modes of different orbital angular momentum states. The effect on a single-photon communication system is quantified using the channel capacity. The work shows that the decoherence effect of atmospheric turbulence on such systems is important even for weak turbulence.
Related Concept Videos
The Wave Nature of Light
Angular Momentum: Single Particle
The...
Conservation of Angular Momentum: Application
Propagation Speed of Electromagnetic Waves
Momentum And Radiation Pressure
Angular Momentum

