Abstract
Vortex beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM), which featuring helical phase front, have been regarded as an alternative spatial degree of freedom for optical mode coding and multiplexing. For most reported OAM-based mode coding schemes, data information is only encoded by different OAM mode states. In this paper, we introduce a novel design technique to construct vortex array phase grating (VAPGs) for the flexible generation of vortex arrays, and employ the proposed VAPGs to realize multi-dimensional space/mode/amplitude coding/decoding. By designing VAPGs with different parameters and loading them on to a single spatial light modulator (SLM), we successfully generate vortex array with different mode states and relative power in the experiments. Moreover, a 10-bit multi-dimensional space/mode/amplitude data coding/decoding scheme for image transfer in free-space link with a zero bit-error-rate is experimentally demonstrated, which confirm the feasibility of our proposed VAPG-based coding/decoding scheme.
Highlights
Vortex beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM), which featuring helical phase front, have been regarded as an alternative spatial degree of freedom for optical mode coding and multiplexing
We introduce a new approach to design vortex array phase gratings (VAPGs) for the flexible generation of vortex array with mode states and relative power controlled
The data information can be encoded to the VAPGs generated by setting the corresponding parameters in the coding table
Summary
Vortex beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM), which featuring helical phase front, have been regarded as an alternative spatial degree of freedom for optical mode coding and multiplexing. For vortex beam based optical communications, OAM multiplexing and OAM coding/decoding are two important ways to carry and deliver data information. The OAM states are theoretically infinite, making it feasible to realize high-dimensional coding/decoding for data transfer in both traditional and quantum communications. Another key superiority of vortex beam coding/decoding claimed “security”, which does not depend on mathematical or quantum–mechanical encryption methods. We experimentally demonstrate multi-dimensional space/mode/amplitude data coding/decoding transmission by employing power controllable vortex arrays. By loading the pre-designed VAPGs on to a single spatial light modulator (SLM), we experimentally demonstrate 10-bit (1024-ary) multi-dimensional space/mode/amplitude data coding/decoding for image transfer in free-space link with a zero bit-error-rate
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
