Azimuthal modulation of probe absorption and transfer of optical vortices

Abstract

We analyze azimuthal modulation of probe field absorption profile in a closed four-level inverted Y-type atomic system. We employ a Laguerre–Gaussian beam and a microwave field to realize spatially varying atomic susceptibility, which is responsible for the generation of structured light. An extra nonvortex control beam is used to ensure electromagnetically induced transparency at the core of Laguerre–Gaussian beam. Our proposed model exhibits both absorption and gain at different azimuthal angles, and orbital angular momentum of light can be identified via absorption profile of the probe field. We further discuss the transfer of optical vortices from Laguerre–Gaussian beam to the transmitted probe field.