Optical vortex fields with an arbitrary orbital angular momentum orientation.

Abstract

Optical vortex fields with a tilted phase singularity line are associated with a tilted orbital angular momentum (OAM). In this Letter, we propose a method to generate optical vortex fields with arbitrary OAM orientation based on the time-reversal method, vectorial diffraction theory, and a 4Pi optical configuration. The ability to control the 3D OAM orientation may find applications in optical tweezing, light-matter interaction, and spin-orbital coupling.