Efficient sorting of orbital angular momentum states of light

Berkhout, G. C.G., Lavery, M. P.J. , Courtial, J. , Beijersbergen, M. W. and Padgett, M. J. (2010) Efficient sorting of orbital angular momentum states of light. Physical Review Letters, 105(15), 153601. (doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.153601)

Abstract

We present a method to efficiently sort orbital angular momentum (OAM) states of light using two static optical elements. The optical elements perform a Cartesian to log-polar coordinate transformation, converting the helically phased light beam corresponding to OAM states into a beam with a transverse phase gradient. A subsequent lens then focuses each input OAM state to a different lateral position. We demonstrate the concept experimentally by using two spatial light modulators to create the desired optical elements, applying it to the separation of eleven OAM states.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Lavery, Professor Martin and Padgett, Professor Miles and Courtial, Dr Johannes
• Authors: Berkhout, G. C.G., Lavery, M. P.J., Courtial, J., Beijersbergen, M. W., and Padgett, M. J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy; College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
• Journal Name: Physical Review Letters
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• ISSN: 0031-9007
• ISSN (Online): 1079-7114
• Published Online: 04 October 2010