Discrete emitters as a source of orbital angular momentum

Liu, R., Phillips, D.B., Li, F., Williams, M.D., Andrews, D.L. and Padgett, M.J. (2015) Discrete emitters as a source of orbital angular momentum. Journal of Optics, 17(4), 045608. (doi: 10.1088/2040-8978/17/4/045608)

[img]
Preview
Text
104665.pdf - Accepted Version

5MB

Abstract

Generation of light carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) is of fundamental interest due to its applications in a broad range of fields, such as classical and quantum optical communications, and optical micro-manipulation. Light carrying a well defined state of OAM is typically created by imparting an azimuthally varying phase structure onto a plane wave. In this work, we investigate, using numerical simulations and experiments, the OAM spectra of light radiated from a heavily course grained emission pattern: an array of discrete circular apertures arranged in a ring configuration, with a constant phase increment between adjacent apertures. We show how the number of apertures and their relative phase defines the position and spacing of peaks in the OAM spectra. We demonstrate that by spatially filtering beams emitted from such a configuration, higher order peaks in the OAM spectra can be suppressed, leaving a single dominant lowest order peak, and recovering a beam carrying a well-defined OAM state. We qualitatively interpret the efficiency of generating beams this way in terms of the angular uncertainty principle.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Padgett, Professor Miles and Phillips, Dr David
Authors: Liu, R., Phillips, D.B., Li, F., Williams, M.D., Andrews, D.L., and Padgett, M.J.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
Journal Name:Journal of Optics
Publisher:Institute of Physics Publishing Ltd.
ISSN:2040-8978
ISSN (Online):2040-8986
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2015 IOP Publishling
First Published:First published in Journal of Optics 17(4):045608
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record

Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
549871Challenges in Orbital Angular MomentumMiles PadgettEngineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)EP/I012451/1P&A - PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY
549872Challenges in Orbital Angular MomentumMiles PadgettEngineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)EP/I012451/1P&A - PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY