Orbital angular momentum of partially coherent beams

The definition of the orbital angular momentum established for coherent beams is extended to partially coherent beams, expressed in terms of two elements of the beam matrix. This extension is justified by use of the Mercer expansion of partially coherent fields. General Gauss-Schell-model fields are considered, and the relation between the twist parameter and the orbital angular momentum is analyzed.     

Effects of atmospheric turbulence on the orbital angular momentum of multi-Gaussian Schell model beams

The effects of multibeams and partially coherent source on the orbital angular momentum transmission of multi-Gaussian Schell model beams in an atmospheric turbulence channel are analyzed. An effective crosstalk probability model of the orbital angular momentum is derived which leads to crosstalk probability function for eigenmodes of different orbital angular momentum states and beamlets. The work shows that the evolution of the effective spatial coherence radius with growing the rms width of the correlation of the partially coherent source and the number of the beamlet in multi-Gaussian model beams. The crosstalk probability of the orbital angular momentum of an effective Gaussian-Schell model beam decreases as increasing of the degree of the spatial coherence of the partially coherent source and the beamlet number of the multi-Gaussian Schell model beams.     

Relation between asymmetrical orbital angular momentum and irradiance-profile rotation for partially coherent beams

On the basis of the irradiance-moment formalism for describing general partially coherent beams, we investigate the relation between the spatial orientation of the transverse beam profile upon propagation and the asymmetrical part of its orbital angular momentum (OAM). More specifically, a necessary and sufficient condition (one-to-one correspondence) is shown between freely propagating non-rotating beams and vanishing asymmetrical OAM. As a corollary, it is obtained that any beam emerging from optical systems that transform a rotating field into a non-rotating beam exhibits vortex OAM only.     

Experimental observation of spin-independent transverse shift of the centre of gravity of a reflected Laguerre-Gaussian light beam

We report experimental observation of a transverse shift of the centre of gravity of partially reflected optical beam having non-zero orbital angular momentum. The results are in reasonable agreement with the theoretical predictions. Possibility of using such shift for measurement of orbital angular momentum state of photon is discussed.     

Entangled orbital angular momentum states of multi-Laguerre Gaussian Schell beams pumping in a Zernike tilt corrected turbulence

Based on the paraxial approximation of the beams propagation in communication system, the square approximation of the wave structure function, the Zernike polynomial expansion of the non-Kolmogorov atmospheric turbulence-aberration and the assumption of the signal photon propagation in slant Zernike tilt corrected turbulence-channel, we analyze the effect of the multi-beam on entangled orbital angular momentum states. The joint detection probability of orbital angular momentum state entangled photons is modeled. Our work shows that the correction of the Zernike tilt aberration by adaptive optics is a method to improve the joint detection probability of orbital angular momentum state entangled photons. The crosstalk probability of the entangled orbital angular momentum states decreases as increasing of the degree of the spatial coherence of the partially coherent source and the beamlet number of the multil-Laguerre Gaussian Schell model beams.     

Transverse mode multiplexing using the helical eigen-beams of orbital angular momentum

The eigen-beams of orbital angular momentum (OAM) have helical wavefront and can be used to construct the channels for free space optical communication, i.e. orbital angular momentum multiplexing (OAMM). It is similar to time-division multiplexing (TDM) and wave-division multiplexing (WDM). We generate four helical beams with different OAM numbers by fork-like grating and modulates them mechanically. The modulated helical beams are then superposed coaxially into one single complex beam. In the receiver, the complex beam is separated into four helical beams with little mutual interference. The experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of OAMM by using the eigen-beams of orbital angular momentum.     

Partially coherent elegant Hermite–Gaussian beam in turbulent atmosphere

Based on the extended Huygens–Fresnel integral, analytical formulas for the cross-spectral density, mean-squared beam width and angular spread of a partially coherent elegant Hermite–Gaussian (HG) beam in turbulent atmosphere are derived. The evolution properties of the average intensity, spreading and directionality of a partially coherent elegant HG beam in turbulent atmosphere are studied numerically. It is found that the partially coherent elegant HG beam with smaller initial coherence width, larger beam order and longer wavelength is less affected by the atmospheric turbulence. Compared to the partially coherent standard HG beam, the partially coherent elegant HG beam is less affected by turbulence under the same condition. Furthermore, it is found that there exist equivalent partially coherent standard and elegant HG beams, equivalent fully coherent standard and elegant HG beams, and an equivalent Gaussian–Schell-model beam may have the same directionality as a fully coherent Gaussian beam whether in free space or in turbulent atmosphere. Our results can be utilized in short and long atmospheric optical communication systems.     

On the Development of Controllable Sources of Single-Photon States with an Orbital Angular Momentum on the Basis of Spontaneous Parametric Down-Conversion of Light

Methods for beam shaping with nonzero orbital angular momentum are studied using diffraction optical elements with the purpose of developing a source of single-photon states based on spontaneous parametric down-conversion of light in the LiNbO₃ crystal in the cavity resonator. The probability of the coincidence of the number of photocounts in detecting signal and idle fields under pumping by a beam with the orbital angular momentum is simulated.     

利用具有轨道角动量的光束实现微粒的旋转

采用扭转柱面镜光学系统将半导体激光抽运固体激光器产生的厄米高斯光束变换成为具有轨道角动量的扭转对称光束.利用该光束具有的轨道角动量特性研制成功了“光学扳手”， 利用“光学扳手”实现了对微米量级微粒的俘获和旋转. 关键词： 轨道角动量 扭转对称光束 光学扳手 光束变换     

Intrinsic and extrinsic nature of the orbital angular momentum of a light beam

We explain that, unlike the spin angular momentum of a light beam which is always intrinsic, the orbital angular momentum may be either extrinsic or intrinsic. Numerical calculations of both spin and orbital angular momentum are confirmed by means of experiments with particles trapped off axis in optical tweezers, where the size of the particle means it interacts with only a fraction of the beam profile. Orbital angular momentum is intrinsic only when the interaction with matter is about an axis where there is no net transverse momentum.     

Proposals for the generation of angular momentum from non-uniformly polarized beams

Several optical arrangements using non-uniformly polarized fields are proposed for generating beams with spin and/or orbital angular momentum. By choosing adequately the input beam polarization and the characteristics of the different proposed set-ups we can control the overall angular momentum of the output beam at will. The orbital angular momentum is analyzed with the beam moments theory and the spin term is evaluated using the averaged s₃ Stokes parameter.     

Spin-to-orbital angular momentum conversion and spin-polarization filtering in electron beams

We propose the design of a space-variant Wien filter for electron beams that induces a spin half-turn and converts the corresponding spin angular momentum variation into orbital angular momentum of the beam itself by exploiting a geometrical phase arising in the spin manipulation. When applied to a spatially coherent input spin-polarized electron beam, such a device can generate an electron vortex beam, carrying orbital angular momentum. When applied to an unpolarized input beam, the proposed device, in combination with a suitable diffraction element, can act as a very effective spin-polarization filter. The same approach can also be applied to neutron or atom beams.     

复杂像散椭圆光束的轨道角动量的实验研究

提出一种直接测量光束的轨道角动量的方法，其原理是把具有轨道角动量的光束照射到一个金属靶上，使其在光束的角动量作用下发生转动. 通过测量靶转动的角度来计算光束的角动量值. 对几种不同参数的光束的轨道角动量进行了测量，获得了轨道角动量与光束参数之间的关系，实验结果与理论分析较好地符合. 关键词： 复杂像散椭圆光束 轨道角动量 测量     

Subwave spikes of the orbital angular momentum of the vortex beams in a uniaxial crystal

We have theoretically predicted gigantic spikes of orbital angular momentum caused by conversion processes of the centered optical vortex in the circularly polarized components of an elliptic vortex beam propagating perpendicularly to the crystal optical axis. We have experimentally observed the conversion process inside subwave deviations of the crystal length. We have found that the total orbital angular momentum of the wave beam is conserved.     

利用干涉光场的相位涡旋测量拉盖尔-高斯光束的轨道角动量

对拉盖尔-高斯光束经多圆孔衍射屏在远场平面上形成的干涉光场的相位和零值线进行了计算模拟.当入射光束的轨道角动量量子数为零时,实部零值线与虚部零值线在干涉光场中心点不相交,因而在该点上不能形成相位涡旋.当入射光束的轨道角动量量子数为+1和-1时,实部零值线与虚部零值线在干涉光场中心垂直并相交,干涉光场相应位置处的相位涡旋的符号相反.当入射光束的轨道角动量量子数为±2和±3时,有四条零值线相交于干涉光场的中心点上,并且实部零值线和虚部零值线交替分布,该交点处形成的相位涡旋的拓扑荷的值恰好与拉盖尔-高斯光束的轨道角动量量子数相等.这种结果可以用来测量涡旋光束的轨道角动量.     

平板式螺旋相位板的设计与应用

传统的螺旋相位板是一种利用沿方位角方向介质材料高度递增实现对光束相位调控产生涡旋光束的光学器件,由于这种特殊的几何结构特征使其不能通过相位板的叠加而调控出射光束所携带的角量子数.本文基于坐标变换方法将介质材料沿方位角方向折射率不变而高度递增的传统螺旋相位板变换为一种介质材料沿方位角方向高度不变而折射率递增的平板式螺旋相位板.通过理论分析与数值模拟,发现本文所设计的平板式螺旋相位板不仅与传统螺旋相位板一样能够产生高质量的涡旋光束,而且平板式螺旋相位板的高度和涡旋光束携带的角量子数可以根据介质材料的折射率选取而任意调节.为了实际应用的需要,可以通过叠加多层平板式螺旋相位板以获得不同角量子数的涡旋光束.这种平板式螺旋相位板在光传输、光通信等领域具有广阔的潜在应用价值.     

Quasi-intrinsic angular momentum and the measurement of its spectrum

We introduce the concept of quasi-intrinsic angular momentum to denote fields for which the mean value of the angular momentum is unaltered by a lateral shift of the rotation axis but the spectrum changes. This property is exemplified by the orbital angular momentum of a beam of light about its propagation direction. We propose an interferometric experiment to measure efficiently the exact angular momentum spectrum and variance for light beams with any arbitrary spatial distribution.     

Beam moments and angular momentum in non-uniformly polarized beams

The angular momentum of non-uniformly totally polarized beams is investigated using methods from the beam characterization approach. The relationship between the elements of the beam matrix for the two components of the field and the angular momentum is given. The unconventional distribution of the polarization across the beam profile could result in contributions to both the spin and orbital terms of the angular momentum. To illustrate this, a particular example with a vortex beam is considered.     

The angular momentum of light: optical spanners and the rotational frequency shift

An introduction is given to the concepts of the spin and orbital angular momentum of light beams. Both spin and orbital angular momentum can be transferred from a light beam to particles held within optical tweezers, so forming an optical spanner. Each also give rise to a frequency shift when the light beam is rotated. This arises because quarter or half-wave plates and /2 or mode converters play equivalent roles for spin and orbital angular momentum respectively.     

扭转对称光束的产生及其变换过程中的轨道角动量传递

研究了采用扭转柱面镜光学系统将厄米-高斯光束变换成为具有轨道角动量的拉盖尔-高斯扭转对称光束. 采用本征模式分解的方法分析了扭转柱面镜光学变换系统实现光束变换的原理.利用光束传输矩阵和二阶矩理论分析计算了光束经过扭转柱面透镜变换过程中的轨道角动量传递过程，证明光束与透镜系统的轨道角动量交换发生在第一个柱面透镜处，光束经过第一个柱面透镜后，具有的轨道角动量保持不变. 关键词： 轨道角动量 光束变换 扭转对称光束 轨道角动量传递