Order Orbital Angular Momentum Research Articles

Focus tunable vector autofocusing Airy vortex beams resist atmospheric turbulence

The rapid increase in orbital angular momentum (OAM) mode size with increasing modal order, given the limited-size of the receiver, is a major impediment to high-capacity OAM mode multiplexing in practice. Based on the Pancharatnam-Berry (PB) phase theory, we correlate the change of the polarization state with the curvature of the wavefront isophase line in the source plane and manipulate the focusing ability of vector autofocusing Airy vortex beam (AAVB) by combining the isophase line curvature and the intensity gradient of the beam, which are two independent degrees of freedom. The present method enables flexible on-demand focusing of vector AAVBs in free space and is more effective in focusing higher order OAM modes, which can reduce the full-width at half maximum (FWHM) of the AAVB with topological charge l= 25 to 1/5 of that of the conventional scalar type. And the modulated vector AAVB is superior to the conventional scalar one in terms of mitigating atmospheric turbulent disturbance. The work provides a potentially useful basis for improving the capability of future free-space OAM systems for large-scale dense communications.

Orbital angular momentum modes in dielectrically chiral-core fibers

In this paper, we investigate a dielectrically chiral-core fiber for the generation of orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes. We observe that the presence of chirality induces a modal index split between the same order OAM modes with opposite topological charges and arbitrary phase front rotation directions, which are originally degenerate in achiral fibers. This split indicates the existence of circular birefringence (CB) associated with a dielectric chirality. The modal cutoff splitting results in a single polarization property without the possibility of coupling between the same order modes that correspond to a single +l or −l OAM mode guiding. However, neither of the two fundamental modes guided by the chiral fiber exhibits a cutoff, despite having different modal indices due to chirality. Upon fraction of modal power cutoff, the high-order modes in the core region display different cutoff fractions of modal power between the same order modes, while the fundamental mode has no cutoff fraction of modal power. Due to CB and different fractions of modal power in the core for different handed OAM modes, dielectrically chiral fibers have potential applications in chiral sensing, circular polarization-dependent OAM mode filters, and new kinds of OAM mode generators.

Multi‐Dimensional Meta‐Holography Encrypted by Orbital Angular Momentum, Frequency, and Polarization

AbstractMetasurface holographic encryption, as an emerging and highly promising technique, presents the advantages of multi‐dimension and high security and consequently provides a flexible and convenient platform for information encryption. Recent years have witnessed rapid progress in meta‐holographic encryption through the utilization of different dimensions of electromagnetic (EM) waves, yet enhancing the capacity and security of encrypted information remains an endless goal. In this context, the concept of three physical dimensions encrypted metasurface holography is proposed in which orbital angular momentum (OAM) is fully synergized with frequency and polarization state. The mechanism relies on the simultaneous control of these dimensions and arbitrarily overlaying them in each operation channel, thereby acting as a multi‐dimensional key to realize information encryption and decryption. As a proof‐of‐concept experiment, a three‐physical dimension encrypted meta‐hologram is designed that conceals four real images as encrypted information in 32 information channels. Remarkably, a specific OAM order, frequency, and polarization state is required to decrypt the designed meta‐hologram. This work opens a new avenue for multi‐dimensional encrypted holography, which has broad application prospects for information security and data storage in the era of big data.

OAM vortex wave interaction with phase modulated metasurface

Phase modulated metasurface (PMM) can control the transmission state of electromagnetic (EM) wave through phase modulation scheme on the interface. Orbital angular momentum (OAM) vortex wave is denoted by the helical phase distribution of the wave front. The interaction between OAM vortex wave and PMM is investigated in this paper. The mathematical model is firstly established according to the array theory. Whereafter, two typical PMMs of chessboard metasurface (CBM) and phase gradient metasurface (PGM) are exploited as examples to uncover the scattering characteristics under illumination of OAM vortex wave. For CBM, the phase cancellation scheme is found to be broken when the OAM order l equals to ±2 under both normal incidence and oblique incidence. It reveals that the OAM vortex wave is a promising approach for metasurface stealth target detection. For PGM, the scattered wave still keeps the OAM feature but is deflected to the non-specular direction, which reveals that the generalized Snell’s law is also suitable to OAM vortex wave. The discoveries of this paper may find applications in radar detection fields using OAM vortex wave.

All-fiberized sorter for nondestructively splitting the orbital angular momentum modes

Orbital angular momentum (OAM) mode sorter is crucial for various OAM (de)multiplexing applications. However, it is challenging to sort the OAM mode without destroying its helical phase. Here, an all-fiber non-destructive OAM mode sorter is proposed for splitting the high purity (>90%) OAM beam with specific topological charge, polarization state and wavelength. By controlling the asymmetrical microfiber coupling region, only the specific OAM mode satisfies the phase matching condition. The all-fibered OAM sorter is optimized to splitting the third order OAM mode with the maximum coupling efficiency 91.02% and the purity 94.71%. The Multiple modes sorter can be realized through the multistage cascaded structure. The proposed all-fiber OAM sort will be a prospective component to expand the OAM beam fiber system.

Bi-directional high-order orbital angular momentum mode generation using gratings in high numerical aperture fiber

We propose a novel design and theoretically analyse it for bi-directional orbital angular momentum (OAM) mode generation in high numerical aperture (NA) optical fibers using the combination of a long period grating (LPG), a short-period (Bragg) grating and a three-port optical circulator. The proposed design consists only of standard fiber gratings rather than specially designed fibers, such as ring-shaped or other types of fibers, making our model relatively simple. Full-vector true-mode analysis has been used to study the modal characteristics of the supported modes in the high-NA fiber. High-NA optical fibers can effectively relieve the degeneracy of the linearly polarized modes. A circularly polarized (CP) light is injected into a single mode fiber, the output end of which is axially spliced into a high-NA fiber. An appropriately designed raised-cosine apodized tilted LPG (TLPG) is used for broad bandwidth coupling of the fundamental HE11 mode to the co-propagating HE21 mode. The employed TLPG converts the CP fundamental core mode (HE 11x ± iHE 11y ) to ±1 order OAM modes (HE 21even ± iHE 21odd ). Both the CP mode and the generated OAM pass through the circulator in the direction of port 1 to port 2. A second fiber is connected at the output of port 2 and a tilted fiber Bragg grating (TFBG) is used to couple the forward-propagating HE11 core mode with the counter-propagating HE21, EH11 and HE31 core modes. The TFBG reflected higher order (±1 and ±2) OAM modes are transmitted through port 3. We observe that the TFBG has a mode-conversion efficiency of more than 95 % for each mode conversion. The generated vortex beam topological charges have been verified using the coaxial interference method.

Ultra-broadband multi-channel orbital angular momentum mode generator using a helical long-period grating pair

We demonstrate an ultra-broadband multi-channel orbital angular momentum (OAM) mode generator using a helical long-period grating (HLPG) pair in a few-mode fiber. The numbers of the channel of the OAM mode generator can be flexibly adjusted by designing the cascaded length of the HLPG pair. When the cascaded length is 50 cm, the maximum channel number of OAM mode generator reaches 46, and the mode convert efficiencies of the channels are more than 90 %, which is, to the best of our knowledge, the highest number of channels among OAM mode converters. By reducing grating length and enhancing the refractive index modulation depth, the 3 dB bandwidth of the HLPG is significantly increased, and thus the wavelength range of the HLPG pair can be expanded. The maximum wavelength ranges of the channels with coupling efficiency greater than 90 % are measured to be 379 nm experimentally. By adjusting the spiral direction of the helical refractive index modulation, we can achieve multi-channel ± 1 order OAM mode conversion for each channel. The multi-channel OAM mode generator holds substantial potential for applications in mode division multiplexing systems, wavelength filters, and fiber sensing.

Redefining uniform circular array’s limit by using square patch elements for higher order orbital angular momentum mode generation

This article proposes a technique to design the Uniform Circular Array (UCA) antenna for the generation of higher order of orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes using lesser number of antenna elements. Earlier, the highest possible OAM mode number (lmax) generated using conventional N-element UCA is limited by number of antenna elements N ≥ 2|lmax|. In the proposed design, a square patch element is placed between two antenna elements of conventional 4-element UCA to generate higher order OAM modes (0, ±1, ±2, and ±3 OAM modes) with lesser number of antenna elements. The proposed UCA is compact in size and requires less complex power dividing phase networks in comparison to conventional 8-element UCA to generate similar lmax. The proposed UCA with square patch is designed at 5.2 GHz and lmax of a N-element UCA with square patch is now limited by number of antenna elements as N ≥ |lmax|. The simulated and measured phase patterns for various OAM modes are in good agreement and supported by mathematical analysis. A comparison of the new structure with the conventional Uniform Circular Arrays available in the literature is also tabulated.

Orbital angular momentum mode femtosecond fiber laser with over 100 MHz repetition rate

Orbital angular momentum (OAM) lasers have potential applications in large capacity communication systems, laser processing, particle manipulation and quantum optics. OAM mode femtosecond fiber laser has become the research focus due to the advantages of simple structure, low cost and high peak power. At present, OAM mode femtosecond fiber lasers have made some breakthroughs in key parameters such as repetition frequency, pulse width, spectrum width, but it is difficult to achieve good overall performance. Besides, the repetition rate is tens of MHz at present. In this paper, a large-bandwidth mode coupler is made based on the mode phase matching principle. In coupler, the first order mode coupler with 3 dB polarization dependent loss is made by the technology of strong fused biconical taper, and the second order mode coupler with 0.3 dB polarization dependent loss is made by the technology of weak fused biconical taper. By combining the nonlinear polarization rotation mode-locking mechanism, OAM mode femtosecond fiber laser with over 100 MHz repetition rate is built. The achievement of the key parameters is attributed to the selection of dispersion shifted fibers that can accurately adjust intracavity dispersion. Comparing with traditional dispersion compensation fibers (DCF), the group velocity dispersion is reduced by an order of magnitude, so it can better adjust intracavity dispersion to achieve the indexes of large spectral bandwidth and narrow pulse width. In addition, the diameter of the fiber is 8 μm, which is the same as that of a single mode fiber. Comparing with DCF, the fusion loss can be ignored, so only a shorter gain Erbium-doped fiber is required, which ensures a shorter overall cavity length and achieves high repetition frequency. The experimental results show that the first order OAM mode fiber laser has 113.6 MHz repetition rate, 98 fs half-height full pulse width, and 101 nm 10 dB bandwidth. Second-order OAM mode fiber laser has 114.9 MHz repetition rate, 60 fs half-height full pulse width, and 100 nm 10 dB bandwidth. Compared with the reported schemes, our scheme has good performance in key parameters such as repetition rate, pulse width and spectral width. We believe that the OAM mode fiber laser with excellent performance is expected to be widely used in OAM communication, particle manipulation and other research fields.

On-demand flat-top wideband OAM mode converter based on a cladding-etched helical fiber grating.

A new method enabling to provide an on-demand flat-top wideband orbital angular momentum (OAM) mode converter is proposed and experimentally demonstrated, which is based on utilization of a cladding-etched helical long-period fiber grating (CEHLPG). By appropriately selecting the grating period and precisely controlling the diameter of the CEHLPG in-situ, both the radial order and central wavelength of the flat-top band for the generated OAM mode can be flexibly tailored according to specific requirements. As typical examples, the first azimuthal order OAM modes with a flat-top bandwidth of 95 nm at -20 dB, a central operating wavelength of ∼1500 nm, and the radial-orders of 9, 8, 5, and 2, respectively, have been demonstrated consecutively. The proposed method provides an excellent flexibility and robustness in controlling both the radial order and the central wavelength of the resulting flat-top wideband OAM mode conversion, which may support a variety of practical optical vortex applications.

Loss-induced multiple modal coalescences in an acoustic ring cavity

Chiral exceptional points refer to a class of non-Hermitian degeneracies where two counter-propagating whispering-gallery-like eigenmodes coalesce into one travelling eigenmode, which have been utilized to create orbital angular momentum in various wave systems. However, most studies in this field have so far focused on the modal coalescence for a specific azimuthal order. In this work, we investigate the eigenmodes evolution of an acoustic ring cavity under complex spatial modulation of refractive index along the azimuthal direction. We show that a careful engineering of the complex modulation, possibly realized with acoustic metamaterials, can lead to multiple modal coalescences to produce a series of travelling eigenmodes with different orbital angular momentum orders. These coalesced eigenmodes can be directly excited by a simple source at their resonant frequencies. Our work provides a straightforward approach to the generation and manipulation of acoustic orbital angular momentum.

Diffraction characteristics of optical vortices using annular radial grating with gradually changing period

Using a grating to measure the orbital angular momentum (OAM) of a vortex beam is a straightforward and economical approach. We devised an annular radial grating with a gradually changing period to characterise a vortex beam. By utilising the different off-axis positions of incidence, the spot distribution law for the far-field diffraction pattern can provide information regarding the topological charge magnitude and sign of the incident vortex beam. Our findings demonstrate that the fringe number and orientation of the diffracted spot can be employed to measure the vortex beam. Furthermore, we simulate the highest measurable OAM order, reaching +170. This measurement technique displays good tolerances for beam alignment and parameter selection. Our study offers a vital approach to the verification of high-order OAM beam generation and demultiplexing and wavefront correction in OAM multiplexing communication systems. These applications have significant value for large-capacity free-space optical communications and OAM holography.

Low loss side-polished pumping coupler for high order OAM modes amplification.

An all-fiber fiber coupler was demonstrated for pumping orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes amplification, which was fabricated by side-polishing and bonding a ring-core erbium-doped fiber (RC-EDF) and a pre-tapered side-polished single-mode fiber (SMF). With the selected phase-matching condition at 976 nm, the pumping laser was coupled into the RC-EDF from the SMF with optimized high efficiency, whereas the 1st to 3rd-order OAM mode signals were transmitted with the low insertion loss in the RC-EDF over a broadband wavelength range from 1530 to 1565 nm. This all-fiber wavelength division multiplexing coupler was optimized by the polished length and depth of the two coupled fibers. The insertion loss for the OAM signal modes was obtained lower than 0.58 dB with the pump power coupling ratio of above 90%. The proposed side-polished pumping coupler technique can ensure high-order OAM modes amplification, paving the way for the all-fiber optical amplifier in high-capacity modal-division multiplexing fiber communication systems.

Three-Dimensional Imaging of Vortex Electromagnetic Wave Radar with Integer and Fractional Order OAM Modes

Vortex electromagnetic (EM) waves, with different orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes, have the ability to distinguish the azimuth of radar targets, and then the two-dimensional reconstruction of the targets can be achieved. However, the vortex EM wave imaging methods in published research have no ability to obtain the elevation of the targets, and thus, the three-dimensional spatial structure and richer feature information of the radar target cannot be obtained. Therefore, a three-dimensional imaging method of vortex EM waves with integer- and fractional-order OAM modes is proposed in this paper, which can realize a three-dimensional reconstruction of a radar target based on a uniform circular array (UCA) with two-step imaging. First, the vortex EM wave with integer- and fractional-order OAM modes is generated, and the echo model with different OAM mode types is established. Thereafter, the echo with integer order is processed to obtain the range-azimuth image by fast Fourier transform (FFT). Then, in order to realize the three-dimensional reconstruction, the echo with fractional order is processed by utilizing the butterfly operation and analyzing the characteristics of the fractional Bessel function. Moreover, the resolution and reconstruction precision of the azimuth and elevation are analyzed. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by simulation experiments.

Co-Modulation of Spin Angular Momentum and High-Order Orbital Angular Momentum Based on Anisotropic Holographic Metasurfaces

In this communication, a new method for modulating spin angular momentum (SAM) and orbital angular momentum (OAM) based on anisotropic holographic metasurfaces is proposed, which can realize the co-modulation of SAM, high order OAM, and beam’s direction simultaneously. The tensor unit adopts an ellipse patch with three adjustable parameters without slotting, and a design and analysis method suitable for this kind of tensor unit is proposed based on the two-dimensional effective impedance database for geometrical size mapping. Based on the tensor unit and proposed methods, the vortex beams with a single SAM state, a single high order OAM mode, and different directions are generated at 22 GHz. Then, the deflected vortex beams with the same SAM state and mixed OAM modes, or the deflected vortex beams with different SAM states and OAM modes are realized using a single feed and a single metasurface integrated for the first time. Simulation and experimental measurement results show that the OAM mode purity can reach more than 80% of the theoretical best value in the main SAM state. The proposed design methods and the device can achieve arbitrary modulation of SAM and OAM, providing a solution for combining and applying the two to multiplexing communications.

High-order OAM states unwrapping in multiplexed optical links

To accurately unwrap the high-order orbital angular momentum (OAM) for multiplexed vortex beams is a challenge. In this work, over ±160 order OAM topological charges have been unwrapped in multiplexed optical links. Optical imaging based discrepancy identification enables the multiplexed OAM modes separating in physics, and the intelligent pattern recognition further promotes its unwrapping in numerical domain. Particularly, the combination of annular phase grating and auxiliary beams features compound spiral stripes, which paves the way for optical intensity recognition with low-complexity and high-commonality. Moreover, the spiral direction characterizes the symbol of the OAM states, which dramatically broadens the amount of multiplexed links. Here, optical separating means assisted by intelligent pattern recognition opens up a new route to high-speed and large-capacity optical communication, which may shed new light on 6G application.

Integrated Phased Array for Scalable Vortex Beam Multiplexing

Orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes have low model interactions during fiber propagation at data center distances, and thus are suitable for ultra-high capacity systems at low digital signal processing. Generating OAM modes using free-space setups is useful for proof-of-concept experiments, but is not a scalable solution. We use an optical phased array (OPA) with two-dimensional antennas for on-chip circularly polarized OAM beam generation. Our previous work demonstrated an OAM multiplexer for lower-order modes. In this work, we demonstrate an OAM multiplexer that supports a record of 46 (23 per polarization) simultaneous spatial modes up to OAM order 11. We also improve the crosstalk performance of our multiplexer. We incorporate an intensity tuning capability that substantially improves the OAM quality by enabling a uniform power distribution across the antennas. The worst-case crosstalk for the supported OAM5 to OAM11 are found experimentally to be better than <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$-12$</tex-math></inline-formula> dB, with OAM10 achieving <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$-17.2$</tex-math></inline-formula> dB.

Generalized Bessel Gaussian vortex in the turbulent media of absorbing seawater

We investigate the effects of turbulent absorbing seawater and generalized Bessel Gaussian (GBG) vortex structural parameters on the transmission of orbital angular momentum (OAM). The receiving probability spectrum and bit error probability of OAM mode carried by GBG vortex are deduced with the orthogonal spiral phase expansion of random GBG vortex and signal-to-noise ratio of OAM mode. By numerical analysis, the underwater transmission invariance of GBG vortex is studied, and the optimal aperture angle of GBG vortex corresponding to the maximum received probability of OAM signal is obtained. The impact of seawater parameters and optical transceiver systems on bit error probability is analyzed by using optimal aperture angle. We found that the transmission invariance of OAM modes of GBG vortex is well maintained even in weak turbulent absorbing seawater. Moreover, received probability and bit error probability are significantly affected even if the deviation of the aperture angle from its optimal position is minimal, and Durnin-ring radius should be the minimum within the experimental allowable range. According to signal transmission distance, the selection of high SNR transceiver system, optimal aperture angle, low order OAM topological charge, and minimum Durnin-ring radius allowed by the experiment can optimize the OAM signal transmission efficiency.

Unidirectional propagation of helical edge states via exciting pseudospin d states in two-dimensional photonic crystals

Helical edge states (HESs) in two-dimensional topological spin photonic crystals can be used to realize pseudospin-locked unidirectional propagation of waves. In general, the excitation of HESs is by taking light sources carrying orbital angular momentum of order 1 to stimulate the pseudospin p states in spin photonic crystals. In this paper, we think of the HESs as combinations of the pseudospin p states and the pseudospin d states, which corresponding to the pseudospin modes carrying orbital angular momentum of order 1 and the pseudospin modes carrying orbital angular momentum of order 2, respectively, with their chirality related to the unidirectional propagations of the HESs. By analyzing the field distributions of HESs and via exciting the pseudospin d states with light sources carrying orbital angular momentum of order 2, we demonstrate the unidirectional propagation of the HESs in spin photonic crystals and verify their robustness by checking the unidirectional performance as they propagate along a Z-shape interface containing sharp corners, cavity defect, and disorders. Our study deepens understanding of the nature of HESs and expands methods to excitation and regulation of HESs in topological spin photonics.

A THz Integrated Circuit Based on a Pixel Array to Mode Multiplex Two 10-Gbit/s QPSK Channels Each on a Different OAM Beam

We experimentally demonstrate a THz integrated circuit with a pixel-array-based orbital-angular-momentum (OAM) mode converter for the generation and multiplexing of multiple data-carrying OAM beams. The integrated device consists of (i) two coupling spikes, which serve as inputs and can couple THz signals from hollow metallic waveguides to the device; (ii) two mode expansion structures, which expand the mode profiles from the waveguide inputs to match the OAM mode converter; and (iii) a 3.6 × 3.6 mm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> pixel-array-based OAM mode converter, which vertically emits and multiplexes two free-space THz data-carrying OAM beams with different mode orders. The generated OAM order depends on the corresponding input port. Two different designs of the integrated OAM emitters show the generation and multiplexing of (a) OAM +1 and –1, and (b) OAM +1 and –2 at the center frequency of ∼ 0.317 THz. Crosstalk lower than –15 dB between the OAM modes can be achieved. Specifically, the OAM +1/–1 emitter has a 3-dB power bandwidth of ∼15 GHz. Using the OAM +1/–1 emitter for a free-space link at a 0.317-THz carrier frequency, we experimentally demonstrate 20-Gbit/s quadrature-phase-shift-keying (QPSK) transmission by multiplexing OAM +1 and –1. Compared to a single-beam transmission, the multiplexed link induces a ∼1-dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) penalty at the bit error rate (BER) of 3.8×10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">−3</sup> .