Twisted Beams Research Articles

Selective and Tunable Absorption of Twisted Light in Achiral and Chiral Plasmonic Metasurfaces.

The symmetry of achiral metasurfaces suggests selective absorption is nonexistent when irradiated either by circularly polarized Gaussian or twisted light beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM). In chiral metasurfaces, the lack of symmetry leads to differential absorption when probed with chiral light either in the form of circular polarization (circular dichroism) or helical phase fronts (helical dichroism). Here, we demonstrate differential absorption of asymmetric twisted light beams, known as helical dichroism, which exist in an array and a single achiral structure and can be controlled. When extended to chiral structures, these asymmetrical chiral light modes enable to enhance and tune chiroptical sensitivity. Our technique offers more control parameters than just changing the OAM value, as presented in previous studies. Selective response to asymmetric helical light beams is qualitatively explained in terms of induced multipole moments. The presence of dichroism in achiral nanostructures offers a significant fabrication advantage over complex chiral structures and enables the development of next-generation plasmonic-based chiroptical spectroscopy and molecular sensing.

Customizing twisted structured light beams

We demonstrate a practical approach to generate twisted structured beams (TSBs) by superposing spiral sub-phase with different azimuthal rotation factors. Diverse morphologic twisted beams are customized by independently controlling the azimuthal rotation factor and the spiral sub-phase number. The spiral intensity pattern of the twisted beams depends on the sign of the topology. Moreover, various twisted structured array beams (TSABs) are constructed by the transverse phase-shift approach, and the focal length for the twisted beams is tunable by introducing a longitudinal phase-shift factor. Furthermore, trapping and guiding microspheres are experimentally executed, which proves the feasibility and practicability of such twisted array beams. The independent control for the TSBs and TSABs provides enhanced flexibility to manipulate matter with light and paves the way for the applications in fabricating chiral nanostructures and manipulating microparticles.

Propagation properties of the partially coherent radially polarized twisted beam through optical system in turbulence atmosphere

In this paper, the transmission properties of the partially coherent radially polarized twisted (PCRPT) beam propagating in the turbulence atmosphere are investigated. The analytical formulas for the components of the cross-spectral density matrix for the PCRPT beam passing through the optical system in the turbulent atmosphere are developed using the Collins integral and aperture function. Research results indicate that modifying the variable parameters and dimensions of the optical system can control the near-field and far-field distributions of the beam, while providing a more flexible choice of receivers for the PCRPT beam in the receiving plane. By utilizing the Cassegrain reflector system and adjusting the optical system parameters, it is possible to achieve collimated transmission of the PCRPT beam and significantly enhance the beam transmission efficiency in turbulent atmospheric conditions. The derivation process and the research results presented in this paper can be expanded to analyze the application of optical systems to control high-dimensional beam field variations. The envisioned utilization of the results obtained from this research investigation pertains to the fields of beam shaping and optical communications.

Scattering and radiation forces of two types of partially coherent twisted beams

Based on the first-order Born approximation and the Rayleigh scattering theory, the analytical expressions of the weak scattering and the radiation force of two types of partially coherent twisted beams are derived, respectively. Numerical examples show that the scattering's directionality and the radiation force's magnitude can be controlled by the twist factor and the cross-strength factor. Moreover, it can be obtained that these two beams can capture particles into the beams' center transversely and push the particles to move forward in the axial direction, which may be useful in optical micromanipulation. For example, we can use these beams to filter out high refractive index particles from clusters and separate them through axial force. This paper will be helpful to the fields of optical tweezers, optical communication, and so on.

Study of Reducing Atmospheric Turbulence-Induced Beam Wander of a Twisted Electromagnetic Elliptical Vortex Beam

Study of Reducing Atmospheric Turbulence-Induced Beam Wander of a Twisted Electromagnetic Elliptical Vortex Beam

Analysis of bending vibrations of a three-layered pre-twisted sandwich beam with an exact dynamic stiffness matrix

This paper presents the novel development of the dynamic stiffness matrix for a three-layered symmetric pre-twisted sandwich beam (PTSB), aiming to investigate its free vibration characteristics. The outer layers of the beam are modeled using the Euler–Bernoulli theory, while the core is assumed to deform solely in shear. The boundary conditions and governing partial differential equations of motion are derived based on Hamilton's principle. By applying harmonic variations of displacements, the governing equations of motion are expressed as a tenth-order equation, which is solved to obtain the desired dynamic stiffness matrix. To compute the natural frequencies of in-plane and out-of-plane free vibration for both uniform and PTSBs, the Wittrick–Williams algorithm is employed. The computed frequencies are compared with the results obtained by other authors as well as those obtained from ABAQUS simulations. Various vibration modes of uniform and twisted sandwich beams are plotted and thoroughly discussed. Interestingly, contrary to straight symmetric sandwich beams, the results indicate that flexural displacements in pre-twisted symmetric sandwich beams exhibit coupling in two planes. Additionally, although there are minor changes in vibration frequencies, the mode shapes undergo significant transformations as the pre-twist angle is altered.

Propagation characteristics of twisted cosine-Gaussian Schell-model beams

We introduce a new class of twisted sources with twisted cosine-Gaussian Schell-model correlation structure. The spectral intensity and the degree of coherence of the field upon propagation are discussed. Such novel twisted field is characterized by unfamiliar twist pattern and controllable far-zone lattice profile. It exhibits a Gaussian or a lattice-like intensity distribution in the source plane, while always turns into a 2×2 lattice profile in the far zone. Notably, the array profile twists around the propagation axis instead of each element rotating about its own lobe center, which is different from most of the twisted array models. Moreover, the splitting tendency in the intensity distribution could be flexibly modulated by the twisted factor, the source coherence and the beam width. The coherence distribution could rotate in the same direction as the intensity with appropriate choice of parameters. Finally, the cross-spectral density’s phase distribution exhibits a spiral windmill structure and coherent singularities could be observed upon propagation.

Twisted spatiotemporal optical vortex beams in dispersive media

We derive a closed-form expression for the mutual coherence function (MCF) of a twisted spatiotemporal optical vortex (STOV) beam after propagating a distance z in a linear dispersive medium. A twisted STOV beam is a partially coherent optical field that possesses a coherent STOV and a stochastic twist coupling its space and time dimensions. These beams belong to a special class of space–time-coupled light fields that carry transverse (to the direction of propagation) orbital angular momentum, making them potentially useful in numerous applications including quantum optics, optical manipulation, and optical communications. After presenting the derivation, we validate our new general MCF by showing that it simplifies to the MCFs for two example beams from the literature. Lastly, we present and analyze space–time beam profiles and complex arguments (phases) of the MCF at multiple z and differing amounts of material dispersion, field correlation or coherence, and beam twist to gain insight into how twisted STOV beams evolve in dispersive media. We conclude with a brief summary.

Twisted splitting and propagation factor of superimposed twisted Hermite-Gaussian Schell-model beams in turbulent atmosphere

We believe this to be a new superposition twisted Hermite-Gaussian Schell-model (STHGSM) beam hat is proposed. Analytic formulas for the intensity distribution and propagation factor of the STHGSM beam in non-Kolmogorov turbulence are derived by utilizing the generalized Huygens-Fresnel principle (HFP) and the Wigner function. The evolution characteristics of STHGSM beams propagating are numerically calculated and analyzed. Our findings indicate that the light intensity of the STHGSM beam gradually undergoes splitting and rotation around the axis during propagation through non-Kolmogorov turbulence, eventually evolving into a diagonal lobe shape at a certain distance of transmission. The anti-turbulence capability of the beam strengthens with higher beam order or twist factor values.

Laser-assisted (e,2e) study with twisted electron beam on H-atom

We study the laser-assisted twisted electron beam impact ionization of the hydrogen atom in coplanar asymmetric geometry. We develop the theoretical model in the first Born approximation. In the presence of the laser field, we treat the incident and scattered electrons as Volkov waves; the ejected electron, moving in the combined field of the laser and residual ion H+ , as a Coulomb–Volkov wave function. In this communication, we compare the angular profile of triple differential cross-section (TDCS) for laser-assisted twisted electron beam incidence with the plane-wave, laser-assisted plane wave, and field-free twisted electron beam for (e,2e) processes for different orbital angular momentum (OAM) number (ml ) values. We analyze the effect of impact-parameter b of twisted electron beam and the laser parameters on the angular distribution of the TDCS. We study the (TDCS)av for the macroscopic target to examine the effect of opening angle θ p of the twisted electron beam on the angular profile of TDCS. We also observe the influence of coherent superposition of two Bessel states on the angular profile of TDCS. Our results clearly show the effects of laser parameters (electric field ɛ and number of photon exchanged (l)) and twisted electron beam parameters (OAM number (ml ) and opening angle (θ p )) on the angular distribution of TDCS.

Coherent diffractive imaging with twisted X-rays: Principles, applications, and outlook

Recent technological breakthroughs in synchrotron and x-ray free electron laser facilities have revolutionized nanoscale structural and dynamic analyses in condensed matter systems. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the advancements in coherent scattering and diffractive imaging techniques, which are now at the forefront of exploring materials science complexities. These techniques, notably Bragg coherent diffractive imaging and x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy, x-ray magnetic dichroism, and x-ray correlation analysis leverage beam coherence to achieve volumetric three-dimensional imaging at unprecedented sub-nanometer resolutions and explore dynamic phenomena within sub-millisecond timeframes. Such capabilities are critical in understanding and developing advanced materials and technologies. Simultaneously, the emergence of chiral crystals—characterized by their unique absence of standard inversion, mirror, or other roto-inversion symmetries—presents both challenges and opportunities. These materials exhibit distinctive interactions with light, leading to phenomena such as molecular optical activity, chiral photonic waveguides, and valley-specific light emissions, which are pivotal in the burgeoning fields of photonic and spintronic devices. This review elucidates how novel x-ray probes can be leveraged to unravel these properties and their implications for future technological applications. A significant focus of this review is the exploration of new avenues in research, particularly the shift from conventional methods to more innovative approaches in studying these chiral materials. Inspired by structured optical beams, the potential of coherent scattering techniques utilizing twisted x-ray beams is examined. This promising direction not only offers higher spatial resolution but also opens the door to previously unattainable insights in materials science. By contextualizing these advancements within the broader scientific landscape and highlighting their practical applications, this review aims to chart a course for future research in this rapidly evolving field.

Degree of paraxiality of radially polarized twisted multi-Gaussian Schell-model beams.

The degree of paraxiality (DOP) of a radially polarized twisted multi-Gaussian Schell-model (RPT MGSM) beam is discussed, and the influence of the source parameters on its DOP is studied. It is shown that the parameters of the beam source, including the boundary characteristic, the beam waist width, the coherence width of the source correlation, and the twist factor, have a significant impact on the DOP of the RPT MGSM beam. To explain the behaviors of the DOP, the far-field divergence angle of this beam is also discussed.

Propagation properties of specular and antispecular twisted Gaussian Schell-model beams

We introduce a class of specular and antispecular twisted Gaussian Schell-model beams, which are generated by inserting a twisted Gaussian Schell-model beam into a wavefront folding interferometer (WFI). The analytical expression for the cross-spectral density function of the beam propagating in free space is derived, and the statistical properties of the optical field are investigated in detail. The results show that the twisted effect is still maintained after the transformation, and the spectral density of the light field always rotates to 90 degrees around the axis during propagation. Furthermore, with appropriate optical field adjustment, the twist effect of the spectral degree of coherence (DOC) can be observed, but in opposite directions to the irradiance profile. We also find that the twisted phase not only controls the rotation of the field, but also effectively modulates the overall spot contour. For the far-field spectral density distribution, a larger twist effect will induce a smaller ellipticity of the beam spot. However, the intensity pattern in the central area is mainly determined by the phase difference of WFI. To be specific, the specular twisted field always has a sharp central peak during propagation, and in the antispecular case it has a central dip. Besides, the DOC distribution can be flexibly adjusted by the source coherence, the twisted phase and the phase difference of the WFI. The results of our work have important applications in the fields of free-space beam communication and particle trapping.

Twisted electromagnetic sinc Schell-model beam and its transmission in a turbulent atmosphere

We present the twisted electromagnetic sinc-correlation Schell-model (EM TSSM) beam as an extension of the cylindrical sinc Schell-model beam and analyze the necessary source parameter conditions to generate a physically viable beam. Furthermore, we thoroughly investigate the propagation properties of the EM TSSM beam in atmospheric turbulence using the extended Huygens–Fresnel integral, explicitly focusing on spectral intensity, degree of polarization (DOP), and degree of coherence (DOC). It shows that the twisted phase has a noticeable impact on the intensity profiles of these beams, causing them to exhibit rotation and self-splitting while still maintaining their shape in free space. Moreover, during propagation through a turbulent atmosphere, it exhibits self-combining properties over a long range and recovers the plat-topped distribution. Compared with the sinc Schell-model beam without the twisted phase, the DOP distribution of such a beam can rotate around its distribution center. As these beams propagate through turbulent atmospheres, they can self-heal their DOP distribution within specific ranges affected by atmospheric turbulence. A twist factor causes non-unidirectional rotation of the DOC distribution in free space. The DOC gradually transforms from multi-strip profiles into a Gaussian-like distribution. Furthermore, the beam parameters play a crucial role in shaping the DOC. The results will be useful in optical trapping and optical communication.

Particle manipulation with twisted circle Pearcey vortex beams.

In this Letter, we present an approach for particle manipulation utilizing twisted circle Pearcey vortex beams. These beams are modulated by a noncanonical spiral phase, which allows for flexible adjustment of rotation characteristics and spiral patterns. Consequently, particles can be rotated around the beam's axis and trapped with a protective barrier to avoid perturbation. Our proposed system can quickly de-gather and re-gather multiple particles, enabling a swift and thorough cleaning of small areas. This innovation opens up new possibilities in particle cleaning and creates a new platform for further study.

Tunable Dynamic Walking via Soft Twisted Beam Vibration

We propose a novel mechanism that propagates vibration through soft twisted beams, taking advantage of dynamically-coupled anisotropic stiffness to simplify the actuation of walking robots. Using dynamic simulation and experimental approaches, we show that the coupled stiffness of twisted beams with terrain contact can be controlled to generate a variety of complex trajectories by changing the frequency of the input signal. This work reveals how ground contact influences the system's dynamic behavior, supporting the design of walking robots inspired by this phenomenon. We also show that the proposed twisted beam produces a tunable walking gait from a single vibrational input.

Ultra-High Capacity Optical Satellite Communication System Using PDM-256-QAM and Optical Angular Momentum Beams.

Twisted light beams such as optical angular momentum (OAM) with numerous possible orthogonal states have drawn the prodigious contemplation of researchers. OAM multiplexing is a futuristic multi-access technique that has not been scrutinized for optical satellite communication (OSC) systems thus far, and it opens up a new window for ultra-high-capacity systems. This paper presents the 4.8 Tbps (5 wavelengths × 3 OAM beams × 320 Gbps) ultra-high capacity OSC system by incorporating polarization division multiplexed (PDM) 256-Quadrature amplitude modulation (256-QAM) and OAM beams. To realize OAM multiplexing, Laguerre Gaussian (LG) transverse mode profiles such as LG00, LG140, and LG400 were used in the proposed study. The effects of the receiver's digital signal processing (DSP) module were also investigated, and performance improvement was observed using DSP for its potential to compensate for the effects of dispersion, phase errors, and nonlinear effects using the blind phase search (BPS), Viterbi phase estimation (VPE), and the constant modulus algorithm (CMA). The results revealed that the proposed OAM-OSC system successfully covered the 22,000 km OSC link distance and, out of three OAM beams, fundamental mode LG00 offered excellent performance. Further, a detailed comparison of the proposed system and reported state-of-the-art schemes was performed.

The behavior of partially coherent twisted space-time beams in atmospheric turbulence

We study how atmospheric turbulence affects twisted space-time beams, which are non-stationary random optical fields whose space and time dimensions are coupled with a stochastic twist. Applying the extended Huygens–Fresnel principle, we derive the mutual coherence function of a twisted space-time beam after propagating a distance z through atmospheric turbulence of arbitrary strength. We specialize the result to derive the ensemble-averaged irradiance and discuss how turbulence affects the beam’s spatial size, pulse width, and space-time twist. Lastly, we generate, in simulation, twisted space-time beam field realizations and propagate them through atmospheric phase screens to validate our analysis.

Mechanical properties of the particle associated with the Laguerre–Gauss beams via the quantum potential point of view

The aim of the present work is to show that the Laguerre–Gauss beams determine a Hamiltonian system with two degrees of freedom for a particle of mass m = 1 under the action of the quantum potential determined by these beams. We show that the integral curves of the Poynting vector constitute a particular subset of solutions to the corresponding Hamilton equations and that the geometrical light rays associated with these twisted beams turn out to be the tangent straight lines to the exact optics energy trajectories at the zeroes of the quantum potential. By using the Hamiltonian formulation, we determine the velocity, the linear momentum, the angular momentum, the torque, and the areal velocity characterizing the particle associated with the Laguerre–Gauss beams.

Devising genuine cross-spectral densities by randomization of coherent fields.

We propose a concept of devising the authentic cross spectral densities (CSDs) of partially coherent beam waves by averaging the second moment of a coherent field over a certain number of random parameters. Several CSD examples created by randomization are presented. We discuss application of randomization to generation of twisted Gaussian Schell model beams and show that compound randomization leads to a new, more general class of twisted beams. We revisit the necessary nonnegative definiteness condition of Opt. Lett.34, 1399 (2009)OPLEDP0146-959210.1364/OL.34.001399 and show that the two-dimensional space of parameters is necessary.