Controlling an optical vortex array from a vortex phase plate, mode converter, and spatial light modulator.

Abstract

In this Letter, we propose a convenient method of generating an optical vortex (OV) array, in which the size and quantity can be controlled by employing vortex phase plates, a mode converter, and a spatial light modulator into a simple optical system. Different sizes of OV arrays are generated from the superposition of crossed Hermite-Gaussian (HG) modes possessing equal or unequal orders and mutually orthogonal circular polarizations. We experimentally and theoretically demonstrate a series of vector superposed optical fields. Here the sizes of the OV arrays, as well as the quantities of OVs, are defined in terms of specific sets of HG bases. Our results indicate that a simple setup can be used to effectively generate and control OVs and OV arrays.