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Published on: November 21, 2019
Measuring orbital angular momentum superpositions of light by mode transformation
Gregorius C G Berkhout1, Martin P J Lavery, Miles J Padgett
1Huygens Laboratory, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9504, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands. j.berkhout@cosine.nl
Optics Letters
|May 20, 2011
Summary
This study evaluates a system for measuring orbital angular momentum (OAM) states of light, focusing on its performance with superpositions of OAM states and noninteger OAM beams.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Quantum Information Science
Background:
- Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) is a fundamental property of light.
- Measuring OAM states is crucial for applications in optical communication and quantum technologies.
- Previous work established a method for OAM measurement via beam transformation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the performance of an OAM measurement system for complex light states.
- To analyze the modal content of noninteger OAM states and beams.
- To investigate the system's capabilities with superpositions of OAM states.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a previously reported method for OAM state measurement.
- Employing a Heaviside phase plate to generate specific light beam profiles.
- Analyzing the modal content of the resulting beams to determine OAM characteristics.
Main Results:
- The system demonstrates capability in measuring superpositions of OAM states.
- Noninteger OAM states and beams produced by the Heaviside plate were successfully analyzed.
- The performance of the OAM measurement system under these conditions was quantified.
Conclusions:
- The OAM measurement system is effective for analyzing complex light states, including superpositions.
- The method provides a means to characterize noninteger OAM states.
- This research advances the understanding and application of OAM measurements in optics.
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