Optical Vortex Pulses Research Articles

Generation of sub-100 fs vortices from a Kerr-lens mode-locked Hermite-Gaussian Yb:CALGO oscillator.

Mode-locked oscillators with high-order transverse modes are excellent platforms for generating femtosecond optical vortices with high average power and good propagation stability. These have important applications in diverse fields such as optical communication, strong-field physics, and laser processing. So far, generating vortex pulses with ultrashort pulse duration remains a challenge. In this Letter, we report a Kerr-lens mode-locked Yb:CALGO laser oscillator delivering Hermite-Gaussian (HG) pulses with a pulse duration of 86 fs using a non-collinear pumping technique. 91 fs optical vortex pulses were generated by using a cylindrical-lens mode converter. To the best of our knowledge, this is the shortest pulse duration ever obtained from a diode pumped solid-state mode-locked oscillator with a pure high-order Hermite-Gaussian mode. The phase structures of the generated femtosecond vortices are characterized.

Generation of gamma photons and pairs with transverse orbital angular momentum via spatiotemporal optical vortex pulse

We present the generation of well-collimated gamma photons and pairs with extrinsic transverse orbital angular momentum (TOAM) through the head-on collision of an intense spatiotemporal optical vortex (STOV) pulse carrying intrinsic TOAM and a high-energy electron beam. It is found that the TOAM of STOV pulse remains almost unchanged, and the TOAM is conserved in the center-of-mass frame. Moreover, there exhibits a duality for particles TOAM in the CMF and laboratory frame when the initial location of high-energy electron beam is different. Furthermore, the TOAM of gamma photons in the CMF increases while that of positrons decreases as the topological charge of STOV pulse increases, whereas in the LF, the TOAM of both gamma photons and positrons decreases. The result under the same pulse intensity is better than that under the same pulse energy. The increase in the initial energy of high-energy electrons leads to an enhancement of the TOAM of both gamma photons and positrons in both frames. Gamma photons and electrons/positrons with TOAM as a new degree of freedom may have extensive applications in optical communication, astrophysics, nanomaterials, and other fields.

Wavefront control of subcycle vortex pulses via carrier-envelope-phase tailoring

The carrier-envelope phase (CEP) of an ultrashort laser pulse is becoming more crucial to specify the temporal characteristic of the pulse’s electric field when the pulse duration becomes shorter and attains the subcycle regime; here, the pulse duration of the intensity envelope is shorter than one cycle period of the carrier field oscillation. When this subcycle pulse involves a structured wavefront as is contained in an optical vortex (OV) pulse, the CEP has an impact on not only the temporal but also the spatial characteristics owing to the spatiotemporal coupling in the structured optical pulse. However, the direct observation of the spatial effect of the CEP control has not yet been demonstrated. In this study, we report on the measurement and control of the spatial wavefront of a subcycle OV pulse by adjusting the CEP. To generate subcycle OV pulses, an optical parametric amplifier delivering subcycle Gaussian pulses and a Sagnac interferometer as a mode converter were integrated and provided an adequate spectral adaptability. The pulse duration of the generated OV pulse was 4.7 fs at a carrier wavelength of 1.54 µm. To confirm the wavefront control with the alteration of the CEP, we developed a novel f-2f interferometer that exhibited spiral fringes originating from the spatial interference between the subcycle OV pulse and the second harmonic of the subcycle Gaussian pulse producing a parabolic wavefront as a reference; this resulted in the successful observation of the rotation of spiral interference fringes during CEP manipulation.

Generation and periodic evolution of third harmonics carrying transverse orbital angular momentum in air-plasma filaments.

Spatiotemporal optical vortex (STOV) pulses, possessing inherent transverse orbital angular momentum (OAM) and exhibiting phase singularity and intensity null in the spatiotemporal (ST) domain, have received increasing attention in recent years. Here, we investigate theoretically the third harmonic generation and evolution properties of STOV pulses via the interaction of 800-nm-STOV pulses with air-plasma filaments. We show that beautiful third harmonic STOV pulses are generated at a propagation distance of several millimeters. During further propagation, the ST intensity profiles of the third harmonics undergo variations in a periodic way, leading to the distortion and subsequent restoration to the initial ring pattern. The periodic evolution is a result of the interference effects between the third harmonics generated with different phases. Consequently, the evolution period is roughly twice the dephasing length of the third harmonics. Meanwhile, additional singularities emerge in the intensity patterns due to destructive interference occurring at specific dephasing lengths for the specific frequency components. The high-frequency components experience destructive interference earlier than the low-frequency components during each evolution period because the dephasing length decreases with frequency. This results in the sequentially appearance of the additional singularities from top to bottom in the ST intensity patterns. The proposed scheme demonstrates a way for higher-order STOV generation and manipulation in air-plasma filaments, which can be of interest for experiments related to vortex light science.

Ultrafast vortex arrays generated from a mode-locked oscillator with dispersion management.

Herein, we demonstrate the generation of optical vortex arrays pulses using a Sagnac common-path interferometric vortex generator. Hermite-Gaussian (HG) modes with different orders are initially obtained from a SESAM mode-locked laser in the positive dispersion regime. Then, in the interferometric vortex generator, by controlling the phase difference and sheering displacement between two HG modes, optical vortex pulses with different numbers of phase singularities are generated through superposition. The generated HG10 mode has a pulse width of 2 ps and maximum energy of 0.75 nJ. One-dimensional vortex arrays and triangular vortex arrays are also generated, which are formed by HGm0 and HG0n modes, respectively. This work has potential applications in the massive manipulation of microparticles, optical communication, and so on.

Time-resolved plasmon-assisted generation of optical-vortex pulses

The microscopic mechanism of the light-matter interactions that induce orbital angular momentum (OAM) in electromagnetic fields is not thoroughly understood. In this work, we employ Archimedean spiral vortex generators in time-resolved numerical simulations using the Octopus code to observe the behind-the-scenes of OAM generation. We send a perfect circularly-polarized plane-wave light onto plasmonic optical vortex generators and observe the resulting twisted light formation with complete spatio-temporal information. In agreement with previous works, we find that emission from the plasmonic spiral branches shapes the vortex-like structure and governs the OAM generation in the outgoing electromagnetic field. To characterize the generated beam further, we emulate the emission from vortex generators with current emitters preserving the spiral geometry. We subject a point-particle system to the generated field and record the orbital angular momentum transfer between the electromagnetic field and the point particle. Finally, we probe the OAM density locally by studying the induced classical trajectory of point particles, which provides further insight into the spatio-temporal features of the induced OAM.

Propagation of transverse photonic orbital angular momentum through few-mode fiber

Spatiotemporal optical vortex (STOV) pulses can carry transverse orbital angular momentum (OAM) that is perpendicular to the direction of pulse propagation. For a STOV pulse, its spatiotemporal profile can be significantly distorted due to unbalanced dispersive and diffractive phases. This may limit its use in many research applications, where a long interaction length and a tight confinement of the pulse are needed. The first demonstration of STOV pulse propagation through a few-mode optical fiber is presented. Both numerical and experimental analysis on the propagation of STOV pulse through a commercially available SMF-28 standard telecommunication fiber is performed. The spatiotemporal phase feature of the pulse can be well kept after the pulse propagates a few-meter length through the fiber even with bending. Further propagation of the pulse will result in a breakup of its spatiotemporal spiral phase structure due to an excessive amount of modal group delay dispersion. The stable and robust transmission of transverse photonic OAM through optical fiber may open new opportunities for transverse photonic OAM studies in telecommunications, OAM lasers, and nonlinear fiber-optical research.

Nonlocality-mediated spatiotemporal optical vortex generation in nanorod-based epsilon-near-zero metamaterials.

Optical vortices have myriad applications in photonics. Very recently, promising concepts of spatiotemporal optical vortex (STOV) pulses based on the phase helicity in the space-time coordinates have attracted much attention owing to their donut shape. We elaborate on the molding of STOV under the transmission of femtosecond pulses through a thin epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) metamaterial slab based on a silver nanorod array in a dielectric host. At the heart of the proposed approach is the interference of the so-called main and additional optical waves enabled by strong optical nonlocality of these ENZ metamaterials, which leads to the appearance of phase singularities in transmission spectra. The cascaded metamaterial structure is proposed for high-order STOV generation.

Generation of spatiotemporal optical vortices in ultrashort laser pulses using rotationally interleaved multispirals.

Ultrashort optical vortex pulses carrying spatiotemporal orbital angular momentum (OAM) have inspired versatile applications such as the micromachining of integrated quantum chips and discoveries such as optical toroidal structures and OAM-carrying X-waves. Generating high-quality ultrashort vortices with controllable topological charges remains a crucial issue. Thus, we propose a rotationally interleaved multispiral to generate such vortices. A multispiral comprises multiple identical spirals rotated around the center in the equal-azimuthal interval and interleaved in equal-radius increments; this structure overcomes the previous structural asymmetry of the single spiral and improves the vortex quality. Accordingly, we conducted theoretical analyses, numerical simulations, and experimental investigations that demonstrated the feasibility of multispirals in generating the ultrashort vortices with symmetric distributions and flexibly controlling the topological charges. The proposed study is significant for broader applications involving ultrashort vortices and extensive investigations in related areas such as research on electron vortices, plasmonic vortices, and other matter vortices.

Wavelength and pulse-number tunable ultrafast vortex fiber laser

We propose an all-fiber passively mode-locked laser emitting ± 1 order ultrafast optical vortex pulses with tunable wavelength and pulse-number, for the first time to the best of our knowledge. A home-made two-mode chirped fiber Bragg grating (TM-CFBG) is utilized to both select the higher-order mode and provide a relatively broad bandwidth to achieve ultrashort vortex pulses. The central wavelength of the vortex pulses can be tuned from 1552.23 nm to 1553.81 nm and the pulse duration reaches 6.31 ps. Through further simply controlling the cavity parameters, vortex pulses with different pulse-number are obtained as well. Moreover, the proposed laser exhibits pump hysteresis effect. This ultrafast vortex fiber laser with flexible tuning functions has potential applications in fields of optical communications, material processing, etc.

Simultaneous spatial and temporal focusing optical vortex pulses for micromachining through optically transparent materials.

We introduce the optical vortex beam into simultaneous spatial and temporal focusing (SSTF) technique, and theoretically and experimentally demonstrate the local control of peak intensity distribution at the focus of a simultaneous spatiotemporally focused optical vortex (SSTF OV) beam. To avoid nonlinear self-focusing in the conventional focusing scheme, a spatiotemporally focused femtosecond laser vortex beam was employed to achieve doughnut-shaped ablation and high aspect ratio (∼28) microchannels on the back surface of 3 mm thick soda-lime glass and fused silica substrates.

Ultrafast beam pattern modulation by superposition of chirped optical vortex pulses

As an extension of pulse shaping techniques using the space–time coupling of ultrashort pulses or chirped pulses, we demonstrated the ultrafast beam pattern modulation by the superposition of chirped optical vortex pulses with orthogonal spatial modes. The stable and robust modulations with a modulation frequency of sub-THz were carried out by using the precise phase control technique of the constituent pulses in both the spatial and time/frequency domains. The performed modulations were ultrafast ring-shaped optical lattice modulation with 2, 4 and 6 petals, and beam pattern modulations in the radial direction. The simple linear fringe modulation was also demonstrated with chirped spatially Gaussian pulses. While the input pulse energy of the pulses to be modulated was 360 upmu J, the output pulse energy of the modulated pulses was 115 upmu J with the conversion efficiency of sim 32%. Demonstrating the superposition of orthogonal spatial modes in several ways, this ultrafast beam pattern modulation technique with high intensity can be applicable to the spatially coherent excitation of quasi-particles or collective excitation of charge and spin with dynamic degrees of freedom. Furthermore, we analyzed the Poynting vector and OAM of the composed chirped OV pulses. Although the ring-shaped optical lattice composed of OV pulse with topological charges of pm , ell is rotated in a sub-THz frequency, the net orbital angular momentum (OAM) averaged over one optical period is found to be negligible. Hence, it is necessary to require careful attention to the application of the OAM transfer interaction with matter by employing such rotating ring-shaped optical lattices.

Generation of ultrashort vortex pulses by spiral array

The ultrashort orbital angular momentum pulses, or the ultrashort optical vortex pulses, with the properties of the ultrashort duration and broadband spectrum, open significant applications in various contexts. The controllability of the orbital angular momentum in ultrashort vortex pulses crucially affects its capabilities. We put forward an approach for orbital angular momentum mode selection in an ultrashort laser pulse. This approach depends on an optical mask with multiple spirals rotationally and symmetrically arranged in a model of the spiral array. Both theoretical analyses and experimental work in the context of ultrashort vortex pulses demonstrate that the spiral array enables flexible generation of the structured orbital angular momentum modes. This optical mask shows the advantages of damage resistance, without medium-dispersion, and ease of handling in an ultrafast optical field. Furthermore, the spiral array can be applied to analyzing and generating other matter vortex beams within an axially scalar system.

Intense harmonic generation driven by a relativistic spatiotemporal vortex beam

Abstract Spatiotemporal optical vortex (STOV) pulses carrying purely transverse intrinsic orbital angular momentum (TOAM) are attracting increasing attention because the TOAM provides a new degree of freedom to characterize light–matter interactions. In this paper, using particle-in-cell simulations, we present spatiotemporal high-harmonic generation in the relativistic region, driven by an intense STOV beam impinging on a plasma target. It is shown that the plasma surface acts as a spatial–temporal-coupled relativistic oscillating mirror with various frequencies. The spatiotemporal features are satisfactorily transferred to the harmonics such that the TOAM scales with the harmonic order. Benefitting from the ultrahigh damage threshold of the plasma over the optical media, the intensity of the harmonics can reach the relativistic region. This study provides a new approach for generating intense spatiotemporal extreme ultraviolet vortices and investigating STOV light–matter interactions at relativistic intensities.

Controlling Photon Transverse Orbital Angular Momentum in High Harmonic Generation

High harmonic generation (HHG) with longitudinal optical orbital angular momentum has attracted much attention over the past decade. Here, we present the first study on the HHG with transverse orbital angular momentum driven by the spatiotemporal optical vortex (STOV) pulses. We show that the produced spatial-resolved harmonic spectra reveal unique structures, such as the spatially spectral tilt and the fine interference patterns. We show these spatiospectral structures originate from both the macroscopic and microscopic effect of spatiotemporal optical singularity in HHG. Employing two-color counterspin and countervorticity STOV pulses, we further discuss a robust method to control the spatiotemporal topological charge and spectral structure of high-order harmonics. The conservation rule of photon transverse orbital angular momentum in HHG process is also discussed when mixing with photon spin angular momenta.

The generation of femtosecond optical vortex beams with megawatt powers directly from a fiber based Mamyshev oscillator

Abstract Numerous approaches have been developed to generate optical vortex beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) over the past decades, but the direct intracavity generation of such beams with practical output powers in the femtosecond regime still remains a challenge. Here we propose and experimentally demonstrate the efficient generation of high-peak-power femtosecond optical vortex pulses from a Mamyshev oscillator (MO) based on few-mode polarization-maintaining (PM) ytterbium-doped fibers (YDFs). By employing an appropriate intracavity transverse spatial mode selection technique, ultrafast pulses carrying OAM with selectable topological charge of l = ±1 are successfully generated with an average output power of ∼5.72 W at ∼24.35 MHz repetition rate, corresponding to a single pulse energy of ∼235 nJ. The chirped pulses can be compressed to ∼76 fs outside the cavity, leading to a pulse peak power of ∼2.2 MW. To the best of our knowledge, this is by far the highest pulse energy and peak power for optical vortex pulses ever generated directly from a fiber oscillator. This unprecedented level of performance should be of great interest for a variety of applications including materials processing and imaging.

Transverse shifts and time delays of spatiotemporal vortex pulses reflected and refracted at a planar interface

Abstract Transverse (Hall-effect) and Goos–Hänchen shifts of light beams reflected/refracted at planar interfaces are important wave phenomena, which can be significantly modified and enhanced by the presence of intrinsic orbital angular momentum (OAM) in the beam. Recently, optical spatiotemporal vortex pulses (STVPs) carrying a purely transverse intrinsic OAM were predicted theoretically and generated experimentally. Here we consider the reflection and refraction of such pulses at a planar isotropic interface. We find theoretically and confirm numerically novel types of OAM-dependent transverse and longitudinal pulse shifts. Remarkably, the longitudinal shifts can be regarded as time delays, which appear, in contrast to the well-known Wigner time delay, without temporal dispersion of the reflection/refraction coefficients. Such time delays allow one to realize OAM-controlled slow (subluminal) and fast (superluminal) pulse propagation without medium dispersion. These results can have important implications in various problems involving scattering of localized vortex states carrying transverse OAM.

Spatiotemporal Vortex Pulses: Angular Momenta and Spin-Orbit Interaction.

Recently, spatiotemporal optical vortex pulses carrying a purely transverse intrinsic orbital angular momentum were generated experimentally [Optica 6, 1547 (2019)OPTIC82334-253610.1364/OPTICA.6.001547; Nat. Photonics 14, 350 (2020)NPAHBY1749-488510.1038/s41566-020-0587-z]. However, an accurate theoretical analysis of such states and their angular-momentum properties remains elusive. Here, we provide such analysis, including scalar and vector spatiotemporal Bessel-type solutions as well as description of their propagational, polarization, and angular-momentum properties. Most importantly, we calculate both local densities and integral values of the spin and orbital angular momenta, and predict observable spin-orbit interaction phenomena related to the coupling between the transverse spin and orbital angular momentum. Our analysis is readily extended to spatiotemporal vortex pulses of other natures (e.g., acoustic).

Nanotwist of aluminum with irradiation of a single optical vortex pulse

A nanoscale twisting of aluminum (Al) is demonstrated by irradiation with a single picosecond optical vortex pulse with relatively low energy near the ablation threshold, due to the orbital angular momentum (OAM) transfer effects. The twisting needle is easily transformed into a microscale non-twisting needle by only the deposition of several overlaid optical vortex pulses. Irradiation with a picosecond/nanosecond optical vortex pulse with a millijoule level pulse energy also enabled the fabrication of a microscale non-twisting needle. Such nano/microstructuring of Al provides a new physical insight for the interaction between OAM and materials, and it also offers an entirely new nano/microfabrication technique towards ultraviolet plasmonic devices.

Silicon twisted cone structure produced by optical vortex pulse with structure evaluation by radiation hydrodynamic simulation

We demonstrate a radiation hydrodynamic simulation of optical vortex pulse-ablated microcone structures on silicon (Si) substrates. Doughnut-shaped craters were formed by single pulse irradiation on the Si substrate, and a twisted cone structure with a height of 3.5 µm was created at the center of the irradiation spot by the circularly polarized optical vortex pulse. A two-dimensional (2-D) radiation hydrodynamic simulation reproduced the cone structure well with a height of 3 µm. The central part of the incident laser power was lowered from the initial profile due to plasma shielding over the laser pulse duration for an inverted double-well laser profile. The acute tip shape of the silicon surface can survive over the laser irradiation period.