Role of radial index in self-reconstruction of structured beams

Abstract

We demonstrate that the self-reconstruction performance of structured light is positively correlated with its radial degrees of freedom; specifically, structured beams with larger radial indices have better self-reconstruction abilities and higher tolerance to obstacles. These results were determined by quantifying the self-reconstruction degree of the Laguerre-Gauss beams. After the beam is partially blocked by an obstacle, we present convincing evidence theoretically and experimentally that an increase in the radial index of the Laguerre-Gauss beam is accompanied by a better self-reconstruction ability. We provide a physical explanation for this result in terms of non-diffraction, traveling-wave solution, and transverse momentum. Finally, we theoretically demonstrate that the contribution of the radial index to the self-reconstruction ability of the Hermite-Gauss and Ince-Gauss modes, the results are consistent. We believe that our results are applicable to all beams with complex radial structure, which provides another perspective on the self-reconstruction of structured beams: the contribution of the radial structure index.