Abstract
Experiments performed with different vortex pump beams show for the first time the algebra of the vortex topological charge cascade, that evolves in the process of nonlinear wave mixing of optical vortex beams in Kerr media due to competition of four-wave mixing with self-and cross-phase modulation. This leads to the coherent generation of complex singular beams within a spectral bandwidth larger than 200nm. Our experimental results are in good agreement with frequency-domain numerical calculations that describe the newly generated spectral satellites.
Highlights
As an intriguing phenomenon in nature, vortices have become an important topic in many fields of physics, spanning from fluid dynamics [1], optics [2] to Bose-Einstein condensates [3]
Extensive research on both linear and nonlinear singular waves has been performed, illustrating the universality of vortices in the physical domain: Topological charge conservation using the concept of pseudo angular momentum was demonstrated in the harmonic generation of acoustic vortices [4], leading to the formation of angular shock waves [5]
Due to the close analogy between the Gross-Pitaevskii equation that governs BEC dynamics and the Nonlinear Schroedinger equation of nonlinear optics, the results presented here are applicable to BECs and superfluids: While four-wave mixing of wave functions in BECs [9] and the generation of vortices by means of different methods [3, 10, 11, 12] have been demonstrated, the combination of both has not yet been observed
Summary
As an intriguing phenomenon in nature, vortices have become an important topic in many fields of physics, spanning from fluid dynamics [1], optics [2] to Bose-Einstein condensates [3]. Extensive research on both linear and nonlinear singular waves has been performed, illustrating the universality of vortices in the physical domain: Topological charge conservation using the concept of pseudo angular momentum was demonstrated in the harmonic generation of acoustic vortices [4], leading to the formation of angular shock waves [5]. In this paper we present results of the analogous process in optics, and show, for the first time, cascaded nonlinear angular momentum mixing and coherent transfer of phase singularities over multiple orders
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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
