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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
08:01
Spectral and Angle-Resolved Magneto-Optical Characterization of Photonic Nanostructures
Published on: November 21, 2019
Electrical Detection of High-Order Optical Orbital Angular Momentum
Guanyu Zhang1, Xianghan Meng1, Zini Cao1
1State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, Frontiers Science Center for Nano-Optoelectronics, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
ACS Nano
|July 27, 2026
Summary
We developed a silicon photodetector for direct electrical detection of light's orbital angular momentum (OAM). This compact device achieves high accuracy in classifying OAM modes, advancing optical information processing.
Area of Science:
- Optoelectronics
- Photonics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Orbital angular momentum (OAM) offers vast potential for high-capacity optical information processing.
- Existing OAM detection methods use bulky optical components, hindering on-chip integration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate an integrated silicon photodetector for direct electrical detection of light OAM.
- To enable compact and robust OAM detection for optical communication and computing.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a silicon-based photodetector integrated with plasmonic gratings.
- Utilizing OAM-dependent splitting angles of surface plasmon polaritons for photocurrent generation.
- Incorporating a surface dielectric lens and split-electrode architecture for enhanced resolution and chirality discrimination.
Main Results:
- The photodetector successfully resolves vortex beams with topological charges from m = ±1 to ±9.
- Achieved up to 99.92% OAM classification accuracy in a single measurement.
- Demonstrated OAM-dependent photocurrent generation and chirality discrimination.
Conclusions:
- The developed silicon photodetector enables direct, on-chip electrical detection of OAM.
- The device is CMOS-compatible and spectrally scalable, offering a compact solution for structured light applications.
- This technology advances integrated OAM detection for optical communication and computing systems.
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