Generation of optical vortices with arbitrary shape and array via helical phase spatial filtering

We report a method for generation of arbitrary shape and array of optical vortices by use of a superposition of coherent elementary vortices based on helical phase spatial filtering in spatial frequency domain. In this method, a helical phase spatial filter (HPSF) is placed in the spatial frequency plane of a 4-f imaging processing system. We demonstrated that the output field distribution represents the convolution between the input field and an elementary vortex field introduced by the HPSF, which results in a special shape or array of optical vortices determined by the “degenerate” properties of coherent elementary vortices and the distribution formats of the input field.     

Propagation of a pair of vortices through a tilted lens

The propagation of a pair of vortices nested in a Gaussian beam through a tilted lens is studied. It is shown that after passing through the tilted lens, the relation between the transverse position of vortices and the tilt coefficient is linear in the propagation for isopolar vortex pair and vortex dipole, and in the three-dimensional (3D) case the vortex trajectories are sometimes like U or X shapes. With increasing the orientation angle of the vortex pair, the trajectories of vortices are circles for the both cases. The overlap of vortices may take place for the isopolar vortex pair, while the annihilation and revival of vortices occur for the vortex dipole in the propagation.     

Duality between phase vortices and Argand-plane caustics

Singularities in the mappings of complex two-dimensional vortical wavefields to Argand space are used here to investigate the duality between vortices in the physical field and caustic-like structures in the Argand plane. Such map singularities are exemplified via a method of optical vortex generation based on low-pass filtering of two-dimensional noise. The presence of Argand-plane fold caustics crossing the Argand-plane origin is tied to changes in vortex numbers in the physical wavefield. Increasing the low-pass filter cutoff leads to higher-order Argand-plane caustic singularities, such as the hyperbolic umbilic catastrophe. This work presents a duality between vortices and caustics, explores the Argand plane as a tool in analysing optical wavefields, and provides a new environment for studying catastrophes.     

Dynamics of two-dimensional radiating vortices described by the nonlinear Schrödinger equation

The paper considers the dynamics of dark charged solitons (vortices) described by the two-dimensional (2D) nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NSE) with a repulsive potential. The dynamics of these point-like vortices in the NSE is quite different in comparison with the vortices in an incompressible liquid because of the possibility of wave-like emission of energy, momentum, and angular momentum in the first case. Another important feature is the characteristic scale of the problem, namely the screening parameter. Related problems of the collapse of a vortex dipole and the decay of a multicharged vortex in a region bounded by an absolutely reflecting shell are investigated both analytically and numerically. The conditions and scaling of a vortex dipole collapse and the limitations on the decay of a multicharge dipole in a bounded region are obtained.     

Two dimensional vortex lattices from pure wavefront tilts

A new method of generation of two dimensional vortex lattices is described. In this method, different parts of the wavefront are given different local tilts to realize vortex lattice in the propagated field. These linear phase variations corresponding to tilts in different locations of the wavefront are created using a spatial light modulator (SLM). The diffracted field from the SLM is found to contain vortex lattice and the presence of these vortices is confirmed experimentally. Computational results are also provided.     

Vortices in dipolar Bose–Einstein condensates in synthetic magnetic field

We study the formation of vortices in a dipolar Bose–Einstein condensate in a synthetic magnetic field by numerically solving the Gross–Pitaevskii equation. The formation process depends on the dipole strength, the rotating frequency, the potential geometry, and the orientation of the dipoles. We make an extensive comparison with vortices created by a rotating trap, especially focusing on the issues of the critical rotating frequency and the vortex number as a function of the rotating frequency. We observe that a higher rotating frequency is needed to generate a large number of vortices and the anisotropic interaction manifests itself as a perceptible difference in the vortex formation. Furthermore, a large dipole strength or aspect ratio also can increase the number of vortices effectively. In particular, we discuss the validity of the Feynman rule.     

Vortex states of a superconducting film from a magnetic dot array

Using Ginzburg-Landau theory, we find novel configurations of vortices in superconducting thin films subject to the magnetic field of a magnetic dot array, with dipole moments oriented perpendicular to the film. Sufficiently strong magnets cause the formation of vortex-antivortex pairs. In most cases, the vortices are confined to dot regions, while the antivortices can form a rich variety of lattice states. We propose an experiment in which the perpendicular component of the dot dipole moments can be tuned using an in-plane magnetic field. We show that in such an experiment the vortex-antivortex pair density shows broad plateaus as a function of the dipole strength. Many of the plateaus correspond to vortex configurations that break dot lattice symmetries. In some of these states, the vortex cores are strongly distorted. Possible experimental consequences are mentioned.     

Experimental study of coherence vortices: local properties of phase singularities in a spatial coherence function

By controlling the irradiance of an extended quasimonochromatic, spatially incoherent source, an optical field is generated that exhibits spatial coherence with phase singularities, called coherence vortices. A simple optical geometry for direct visualization of coherence vortices is proposed, and the local properties and the spatial evolution of coherence vortex are experimentally investigated. To our knowledge, this is the first direct and quantitative experimental measurement of a generic coherence vortex.     

弱相互作用玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚体中涡旋动力学与量子混沌轨道简

利用变分法和数值模拟方法,我们分别从解析上和数值上研究了弱相互作用玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚体中不同涡旋蔟的动力学性质.借助玻姆量子力学中的方法,我们定义了相应量子流体中的量子轨道,并且研究了由于不同涡旋结构的存在而导致量子轨道出现混沌的性质.当存在一单涡旋,我们发现混沌轨道出现与否和涡旋轨道的形状紧密相关.此外,玻色凝聚体原子中的两体相互作用对各向异性谐振子势下涡旋对出现时量子轨道混沌的发生也具有重要的作用.因为这一非线性相互作用会破坏相应速度场的时间周期性.最后,在涡旋极子情形下,我们还讨论了由于涡旋相互激发或淹没的作用而导致规则岛膨胀的性质.这些规则区域镶嵌在一定的混沌海中.     

Dynamic behaviors of optical vortices in dual-core photonic crystal fibers

Novel evolution dynamics of optical vortices propagating in a dual-core photonic crystal fiber (PCF) is investigated, which can be explained well by using the equivalent dipole mode superposition principle. Thanks to the coupling between the two cores of PCF, exciting vorticity splitting and topological charge-flipping are achieved by inducing a vortex beam into one of the two cores of the PCF. What is more, the evolutions of two vortices located in each core separately can be controlled by means of modulating the initial phase difference of them. Our results may offer possibilities for applications of optical vortices, orbital angular momentum modulations, as well as optical communications.     

Exotic vortex structures of the dipolar Bose–Einstein condensates trapped in harmonic-like and toroidal potential

Based on the tunable intensity and waist of Gaussian laser, harmonic-like and toroidal potentials can be achieved and the ground-state properties of the dipolar Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) trapped in such potentials are investigated. It is found that, in the harmonic-like potential, the singly and doubly quantized vortices can exist in the scale condensate and translate respectively into vortex pairs and triangular vortex lattice with increasing dipole–dipole interaction (DDI). Especially, the sandwich-like structure can be observed in the ground-state density profiles by tuning the direction and strength of DDI for some rotating frequency. In the toroidal potential, the competition between the inter-component interaction and DDI can induce the transition between immiscible and miscible states, and results in the structures of a doubly quantized vortex surrounded by a vortex ring. It is worth emphasizing that, with the increasing of DDI, the doubly quantized vortex in the harmonic-like potential becomes two singly quantized vortices, while in the toroidal potential it is no happen due to the presence of Gaussian barrier.     

Partially incoherent optical vortices in self-focusing nonlinear media

We observe stable propagation of spatially localized single- and double-charge optical vortices in a self-focusing nonlinear medium. The vortices are created by self-trapping of partially incoherent light carrying a phase dislocation, and they are stabilized when the spatial incoherence of light exceeds a certain threshold. We confirm the vortex stabilization effect by numerical simulations and also show that the similar mechanism of stabilization applies to higher-order vortices.     

Symmetry theory of the flexomagnetoelectric interaction in the magnetic vortices and skyrmions

Symmetry classification of the magnetic vortices and skyrmions has been suggested. Relation between symmetry based predictions and direct calculation has been shown. It was shown that electric dipole moment of the vortex is located inside the small vortex core. The antivortices and antiskyrmions do not carry the total core electric dipole induced by the flexomagnetoelectric interaction in the hexoctahedral cubic crystal. The volumetric bound electric charge is distributed around the core. Switching of the core electric dipole direction produces the switching of the core magnetization or vortex chirality and vice versa. The vortices and skyrmions with time-invariant enantiomorphism have two degenerative states: clockwise and counterclockwise state.     

Modeling of nonlinear and non-stationary multi-vortex behavior of CDWs at nanoscales in restricted geometries of internal junctions

We report on studies of stationary states and their transient dynamic for an incommensurate charge density wave (ICDW) in a restricted geometry of two spatial dimensions. The model takes into account multiple fields in mutual nonlinear interactions: the amplitude and the phase of the complex order parameter, and distributions of the electric and chemical potentials, of the density and the current of normal carriers. We observed spontaneous formation of vortices (the ICDW dislocations), and followed events of their creation and the subsequent evolution. The vortices appear when the voltage across, or the current through, the sample exceed a threshold. The number of vortices remnant in the reconstructed stationary state increases stepwise – in agreement with experiments, while a much greater number of vortices appears during the intermediate transient states. The vortex core concentrates the electric dipole leading to sharp drops of the electric and chemical potentials across the core. That can lead to enhanced inter-layer tunneling making the core to be a self-tuned microscopic tunneling junction. The results are applied to experiments on nano-fabricated mesa-junctions. They also appeal to modern efforts of the field-effect transformations in correlated electronic systems.     

Acceleration and ejection of interacting ring vortices by radial flow

Exact solution of two-dimensional hydrodynamic equations for symmetrical configuration of four point vortices in the presence of radial flow is found. This solution describes the dynamics of a dipole toroidal vortex (consisting of two counter-rotating vortex rings) in such a flow. It is shown that in a convergent flow the ring vortices are compressed and ejected with acceleration along the symmetry axes of the system. Possible application to the problem of jets formation in active galaxy nuclei is considered.     

Manipulation of polarization-dependent multivortices with quasi-periodic subwavelength structures

Multiple vortices with different topological charges are formed by the use of two sequential geometric phase elements. These elements are realized by quasi-periodic subwavelength gratings. The first element is a spiral phase element and the second element is a spherical phase element. We provide a theoretical analysis and an experimental demonstration of the formation of the multiple vortices that comprise scalar vortices and a vectorial vortex.     

Influence of orbital motion on the collapse of ring vortices in an accretion flow

The orbital motion along the directrix of ring vortices (vortex with swirl) regulated by helicity can exert a significant influence on the vortex collapse and motion in a convergent (accretion) flow. The solutions for both single and dipole toroidal vortices in Hamiltonian representation have been obtained. The phenomenon considered can have applications in the astrophysics of active galactic nuclei and the dynamics of atmospheric vortices.     

Spatial line nodes and fractional vortex pairs in the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov vortex state of spin-singlet superconductors

A Zeeman magnetic field can induce a Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) phase in spin-singlet superconductors. Here we argue that there is a nontrivial solution for the FFLO vortex phase that exists near the upper critical field in which the wave function has only spatial line nodes that form intricate and unusual three-dimensional structures. These structures include a crisscrossing lattice of two sets of nonparallel line nodes. We show that these solutions arise from the decay of conventional Abrikosov vortices into pairs of fractional vortices. We propose that neutron scattering studies can observe these fractional vortex pairs through the observation of a lattice of 1/2 flux quanta vortices. We also consider related phases in noncentrosymmetric superconductors.     

Two dimensional mechanism for insect hovering

Resolved computation of two dimensional insect hovering shows for the first time that a two dimensional hovering motion can generate enough lift to support a typical insect weight. The computation reveals a two dimensional mechanism of creating a downward dipole jet of counterrotating vortices, which are formed from leading and trailing edge vortices. The vortex dynamics further elucidates the role of the phase relation between the wing translation and rotation in lift generation and explains why the instantaneous forces can reach a periodic state after only a few strokes. The model predicts the lower limits in Reynolds number and amplitude above which the averaged forces are sufficient.     

Parallel two-photon photopolymerization of microgear patterns

We report parallel two-photon photopolymerization of microgear patterns by exposing a photoresist to holographically generated optical vortices. The optical vortices are created by imparting a helical pitch onto the incident light using a programmable lithographic phase mask realized with a computer addressable phase-only spatial light modulator. By varying the phase levels of the spatial light modulator, the truncated helical phase of an optical vortex results in output intensity patterns that typifies that of microgears instead of perfect doughnut beams. Our experiments and simulations are in good agreement implying a more efficient and highly parallel two-photon photopolymerization scheme that can be subsequently used for non-scanning fabrication of microgears.