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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 2026

Fabrication and Characterization of Disordered Polymer Optical Fibers for Transverse Anderson Localization of Light

Fabrication and Characterization of Disordered Polymer Optical Fibers for Transverse Anderson Localization of Light

Published on: July 29, 2013

Localization of angular momentum in optical waves propagating through turbulence.

Darryl J Sanchez¹, Denis W Oesch

¹Starfire Optical Range, AFRL/RDS, Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, NM, USA. AFRL/RDSWorkflowOrgMailbox@Kirtland.af.mil

|January 26, 2012

Summary

Atmospheric turbulence can create orbital angular momentum in light beams. This study shows that this angular momentum is a normal and localized effect of light propagation through turbulence.

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Area of Science:

Optics and Photonics
Atmospheric Physics

Background:

Orbital angular momentum (OAM) in light is a fundamental property with applications in optical communications and microscopy.
The effect of atmospheric turbulence on the OAM of light beams is not fully understood.
Previous studies have primarily focused on the degradation of OAM, not its creation.

Purpose of the Study:

To demonstrate the creation of non-trivial orbital angular momentum in optical beams propagating through atmospheric turbulence.
To investigate the localization and characteristics of turbulence-induced OAM.
To establish OAM creation as a normal phenomenon during light propagation in turbulent media.

Main Methods:

Controlled laboratory experiments simulating atmospheric turbulence.
Propagation of laser beams through a turbulent medium.
Analysis of beam properties to detect and quantify induced angular momentum.

Main Results:

Demonstrated that atmospheric turbulence can impart significant orbital angular momentum to light beams.
Showed that the induced angular momentum is highly localized within the beam.
Confirmed that OAM creation is an inherent aspect of light propagation through turbulence.

Conclusions:

Atmospheric turbulence is capable of generating orbital angular momentum in optical waves.
The induced OAM is a localized phenomenon, not a global beam property.
This finding opens new avenues for understanding light-matter interactions in complex media and potential applications.