Abstract
The orbital angular momentum (OAM) of light provides a new degree of freedom for carrying information. The stable propagation and generation of OAM modes are necessary for the fields of OAM-based optical communications and microscopies. In this review, we focus on discussing the novel fibers that are suitable for stable OAM mode transmission and conversion. The fundamental theory of fiber modes is introduced first. Then, recent progress on a multitude of fiber designs that can stably guide or generate OAM modes is reviewed. Currently, the mode crosstalk is regarded as the main issue that damages OAM mode stability. Therefore, the coupled-mode theory and coupled-power power theory are introduced to analyze OAM modes crosstalk. Finally, the challenges and prospects of the applications of OAM fibers are discussed.
Highlights
Momentum Modes in Optical Fibers.A photon can carry spin angular momentum (SAM) and orbital angular momentum (OAM)
This paper introduces the fiber-guided OAM modes from the principle of fiber mode theory and highlight the advances in design, fabrication, and application of OAM fibers including conventional solid optical fibers and microstructure optical fibers
The inverse-parabolic graded-index fiber (IP-GIF) and ring-core fiber (RCF), especially the one assisted by a central air-hole, show good ability to separate the neff of near-degenerate OAM modes
Summary
The diffraction of OAM beams limits the FSO data transmission in long-distance situations Another way for OAM mode propagation is using optical fiber. A kind of ring-core photonic crystal fiber (RC-PCF) was designed for OAM mode transmission with ultra-low confinement loss and wide bandwidth [37]. A kind of microstructure RCF employing negative curvature cladding structures was proposed and fabricated [39,40] Under experimental test, it showed low transmission loss of the first-order OAM modes with the value of 0.095 dB/m. The technical challenges and application prospects of OAM fibers are discussed at the end
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