Numerical correction of optical vortex using a wrapped phase map analysis algorithm

We demonstrate experimentally a technique for the numerical correction of an optical vortex with a unitary topological charge. A developed algorithm based on the axial behavior of a reconstructed wavefront is used in the detection of the optical vortex. Optimizations of the number of axial phase maps and the window size used in the algorithm yield the precise coordinates of the vortex eye. The obtained coordinates and vortex handedness are used in designing a proper filter, facilitating numerical correction of the vortex phase map. The developed algorithm can be applied to absolute phase and phase difference maps obtained through any reconstruction method.