Fiber propagation of vector modes

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Quantum Information Science

Background:

• Optical fibers support various light modes, including vector-vortex modes.
• Mode division multiplexing (MDM) offers potential for increased data transmission capacity.
• Understanding and controlling vector modes is key for advanced optical communication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To generate and characterize radially modulated vector-vortex modes in optical fibers.
• To investigate the non-separability of these vector states during propagation.
• To assess the utility of the developed method for mode division multiplexing applications.

Main Methods:

• Employing dynamic and geometric phase control of light to produce vector-vortex modes.
• Utilizing vector modal decomposition and tomography for mode measurement.
• Analyzing modal cross-talk and non-separability decay in a step-index fiber.

Main Results:

• Successfully produced natural modes of optical fibers, including those in step-index fibers.
• Quantified the non-separability of vector states, analogous to quantum entanglement.
• Observed and measured modal cross-talk and non-separability decay during propagation.

Conclusions:

• The developed phase control technique effectively generates and measures complex optical fiber modes.
• The approach provides a method to quantify vector state non-separability, relevant for quantum information.
• This technique is promising for advancing mode division multiplexing for classical and quantum information transport.