Composite vortex beams by coaxial superposition of Laguerre–Gaussian beams

We propose the generation of novel composite vortex beams by coaxial superposition of Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) beams with common waist position and waist parameter. Computer-generated holography by conjugate-symmetric extension is applied to produce the holograms of several composite vortex beams. Utilizing the holograms, fantastic light modes including optical ring lattice, double dark-ring and double bright-ring composite vortex beams etc. are numerically reconstructed. The generated composite vortex beams show diffraction broadening with some of them showing dynamic rotation around beam centers while propagating. Optical experiments based on a computer-controlled spatial light modulator (SLM) verify the numerical results. These novel composite vortex beams possess more complicated distribution and more controllable parameters for their potential application in comparison to conventional optical ring lattice.     

Propagation properties of Airy–Gaussian beams

The propagation of the Airy–Gaussian beams is studied in strongly nonlocal nonlinear media analytically and numerically. The linear momentum of the analytical Airy–Gaussian beam solution of the Snyder–Mitchell model is not conservational, which is the reason that results in the disagreement between the analytical Airy–Gaussian beam solution and the numerical simulations of the nonlocal nonlinear Schr?dinger equation in the case of strong nonlocality. The quasi-Airy–Gaussian soliton in the Gaussian-shaped response material can be obtained when the parameter χ ₀ is large enough, and the patterns of Airy–Gaussian beams are variable periodically in liquid crystal material during propagation.     

Wavefront dislocations of Gaussian beams nesting optical vortices in a turbulent atmosphere

A phase singularity of the light field created by interference of two Gaussian singular beams which propagate in a weak and near ground turbulent atmosphere is analyzed by the Rytov approximation and the short-term averaging method of the dislocation-position. We demonstrate that an edge or circular dislocation may be formed by both parallel and coaxial or noncoaxial collimated beams with different or equal beam-width interfere. The edge or circular short-term wavefront dislocations of super position field depend on the atmospheric turbulence strength, beam propagation distance, amplitude ratio, dislocation of nesting vortices, and beam-width or beam-width ratio of the individual beams.     

Intra-cavity generation of superpositions of Laguerre–Gaussian beams

In this paper we demonstrate experimentally the intra-cavity generation of a coherent superposition of Laguerre–Gaussian modes of zero radial order but opposite azimuthal order. The superposition is created with a simple intra-cavity stop that creates equal losses for the two azimuthal modes, and we show that by adjustment of the stop we can produce modes up to azimuthal order 8. The fact that we have a coherent superposition rather than an incoherent superposition is verified by intensity measurements, propagation measurements and a decomposition of the field by an inner product executed on a phase-only spatial light modulator. Such fields have relevance in quantum information and optical trapping.     

Propagation of truncated modified Laguerre–Gaussian beams

By expanding the circ function into a finite sum of complex Gaussian functions and applying the Collins formula, the propagation of hard-edge diffracted modified Laguerre–Gaussian beams (MLGBs) through a paraxial ABCD system is studied, and the approximate closed-form propagation expression of hard-edge diffracted MLGBs is obtained. The transverse intensity distribution of the MLGB carrying finite power can be characterized by a single bright and symmetric ring during propagation when the aperture radius is very large. Starting from the definition of the generalized truncated second-order moments, the beam quality factor of MLGBs through a hard-edged circular aperture is investigated in a cylindrical coordinate system, which turns out to be dependent on the truncated radius and the beam orders.     

Combination of high order polarization vortex beams using Hermite–Gauss beams

A method to combine arbitrary order polarization vortex beams (PVBs) by Hermite–Gauss mode beams with designed field distributions is proposed. The orders of PVBs are determined by the modes of HG beams which are used in the combination scheme and the intensity distributions are the same as those of Laguerre–Gaussian beams. Simulations and experiments were also demonstrated, which verifies the feasibility of the proposed method.     

Tunable gradient force of hyperbolic-cosine–Gaussian beam with vortices

Gradient force plays an important role in optical tweezers technique. In this paper, the tunable gradient force in focal plane of the hyperbolic-cosine–Gaussian (ChG) beam is investigated numerically. The ChG beam contains one spiral vortex and one non-spiral vortex. Simulation results show that the gradient force distribution can be altered considerably by decentered parameters of ChG beam, topological number of the spiral vortex, and vortex parameter of the non-spiral vortex. Many novel gradient force patterns can occur, which means corresponding optical traps may come into being, including ring optical trap, multiple-point trap pattern, line optical trap, rectangle trap pattern, and rhombus trap pattern. In addition, force pattern evolution principle may also differ significantly.     

Scintillation advantages of lowest order Bessel–Gaussian beams

For a weak turbulence propagation environment, the scintillation index of the lowest order Bessel–Gaussian beams is formulated. Its triple and single integral versions are presented. Numerical evaluations show that at large source sizes and large width parameters, when compared at the same source size, Bessel–Gaussian beams tend to exhibit lower scintillations than the Gaussian beam scintillations. This advantage is lost however for excessively large width parameters and beyond certain propagation lengths. Large width parameters also cause rises and falls in the scintillation index of off-axis positions toward the edges of the received beam. Comparisons against the fundamental Gaussian beam are made on equal source size and equal power basis. PACS  42.25.Dd; 42.25.Bs; 42.68.Bz; 42.68.-w     

Effective radius of curvature of Hermite–Gaussian array beams

Analytical expressions for the effective radius of curvature, R, of Hermite–Gaussian (H–G) array beams propagating in free space for both coherent and incoherent combinations are derived. It is shown that for the two types of beam combination a minimum of the effective radius of curvature, R_min, appears as the propagation distance z increases. For the coherent combination, R is larger than that for the incoherent combination. The position z_min where the effective radius of curvature reaches its minimum is further away from the source plane for the coherent combination than that for the incoherent combination. For the two types of beam combination, R and z_min increase with increasing beam number, increasing beam separation distance, increasing waist width, and decreasing beam order and wavelength. In particular, the R of single H–G beams is always smaller than that of H–G array beams; the R of Gaussian array beams is always larger than that of H–G array beams.     

Propagation aspects of Mathieu–Gaussian beams in turbulence

Based on our recent source plane formulation, the propagation characteristics of Mathieu–Gaussian beams in turbulent atmosphere are investigated. In this connection, the average receiver plane intensity expression is deduced using the Huygens–Fresnel integral. Our results offered in the form of graphical illustrations reveal that, for some settings of source and propagation parameters, the center of the source beam is evacuated after propagation, while the initially smaller side lobes begin to grow. In a parallel development, the angular distribution of the beam also changes. At small Gaussian source sizes and transverse components of the wave vector, the source beam profile remains almost invariant throughout the propagation. The larger refractive index structure constant values cause the final Gaussian beam profile to be attained at earlier propagation distances. Smaller refractive index structure constants, on the other hand, do not change the beam profile substantially from that of free space.     

Interaction of Airy–Gaussian beams in saturable media

Based on the nonlinear Schr o¨dinger equation, the interactions of the two Airy–Gaussian components in the incidence are analyzed in saturable media, under the circumstances of the same amplitude and different amplitudes, respectively. It is found that the interaction can be both attractive and repulsive depending on the relative phase. The smaller the interval between two Airy–Gaussian components in the incidence is, the stronger the intensity of the interaction. However, with the equal amplitude, the symmetry is shown and the change of quasi-breathers is opposite in the in-phase case and out-of-phase case. As the distribution factor is increased, the phenomena of the quasi-breather and the self-accelerating of the two Airy–Gaussian components are weakened. When the amplitude is not equal, the image does not have symmetry. The obvious phenomenon of the interaction always arises on the side of larger input power in the incidence. The maximum intensity image is also simulated. Many of the characteristics which are contained within other images can also be concluded in this figure.     

Goos–Hänchen shift for higher-order Hermite–Gaussian beams

We study the reflection of a Hermite–Gaussian beam at an interface between two dielectric media. We show that unlike Laguerre–Gaussian beams, Hermite–Gaussian beams undergo no significant distortion upon reflection. We report Goos–H?nchen shift for all the spots of a higher-order Hermite–Gaussian beam near the critical angle. The shift is shown to be insignificant away from the critical angle. The calculations are carried out neglecting the longitudinal component along the direction of propagation for a spatially finite, s-polarized, full 3D vector beam. We briefly discuss the difficulties associated with the paraxial approximation pertaining to a vector Gaussian beam.     

Nonparaxial propagation of phase-flipped Gaussian beams

This paper derives the closed-form expressions for nonparaxial phase flipped Gaussian （PFG） beams propagating in free space, through a knife edge and an aperture, which enable us to study nonparaxial propagation properties of PFG beams and to compare nonparaxial results with paraxial ones. It is found that the f parameter, offsetting distance of the knife edge and truncation parameter affect the nonparaxial beam propagation properties. Only under certain conditions the paraxial approximation is applicable. The results are illustrated by numerical examples.     

Partially coherent elegant Hermite–Gaussian beams

Elegant Hermite–Gaussian beams (EHGBs) are extended to the partially coherent case. An explicit and analytical formula is derived for the cross-spectral density of a partially coherent EHGB propagating through an aligned or misaligned paraxial ABCD optical system. The propagation properties of a partially coherent EHGB in free space and its focusing properties through a thin lens are studied numerically, and are compared to those of a partially coherent standard Hermite–Gaussian beam (SHGB). It is found that the propagation and focusing properties of a partially coherent EHGB are closely related to its initial coherence. A partially coherent EHGB spreads slower than a partially coherent SHGB in free-space propagation. A partially coherent EHGB can be focused more tightly than a partially coherent SHGB.     

Fresnel tomography and interferometric technique for characterizing Laguerre–Gaussian beams

The Fresnel tomograms of Laguerre–Gaussian beams are found and the relation of the two-point spatial correlation function with the tomographic map is discussed. The spatial distribution and signature of vorticity of Laguerre–Gaussian modes is analyzed by measuring the two-point spatial correlation function of the one-dimensional projection of the vortex field. An interferometric approach, based on a Fourier projection algorithm, for the experimental determination of the two-point correlation function of the full complex vortex field at the cross-section plane of the recorded interference pattern is also described; this approach allows one to characterize the vortex structure and spatial coherence along the direction of propagation.     

Generation of partially coherent vortex bottle beams

Intensity distribution of the partially coherent Bessel vortex beams focused by an aperture lens is inves- tigated.It is found that the intensity distribution in the neighborhood of the geometrical focus is not only dependent on the topological charge and the radial frequency of the incident partially coherent Bessel vortex beam,but also on its coherence length.Based on this,the desired partially coherent vortex bottle beams can be obtained by choosing appropriate values of parameters.Because such bottle beams possess characteristics of low coherence and vortex,it may be used in microscopic particles guiding,trapping,and inducing rotation.     

Dynamics of collinear Laguerre–Gaussian beams in nonlocal nonlinear media

We study the optical fields that are produced by two collinear Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) beams in strongly nonlocal nonlinear media. Various novel kinds of rotating breathers and solitons, such as quadrangle, pentacle, pentagon, etc. can be obtained by combining different mode-index LG beams with the different relative amplitude. The rotating and translating asymmetric breathers and solitons can be obtained when the difference of the azimuthal charge between the two combining LG beams is 1.     

Rectangular hard-edged aperture diffracted Laguerre–Gaussian beams

Based on the relations between Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) and Hermite–Gaussian (HG) modes and by introduced the complex Gaussian expansion method for two dimensional rectangular aperture, the approximate analytical propagation expressions of the rotational symmetrical LG beams along with their even and odd modes through a paraxial ABCD optical system with rectangular hard-edged aperture are derived. As special cases of the results, the corresponding closed-forms of the circular aperture diffracted LG beams and non-truncated LG beams are also given. Numerical examples are given to prove the validity of this approximate analytical method and illustrate the propagation properties of the rectangular hard-edged aperture diffracted LG beams.     

Vortex and anti-vortex compositions of exact elegant Laguerre–Gaussian vector beams

Reformulation of conventional beam definitions into their bidirectional versions and use of Hertz potentials make beam fields exact vector solutions to Maxwell’s equations. This procedure is applied to higher-order elegant Laguerre–Gaussian beams of transverse magnetic and transverse electric polarization. Their vortex and anti-vortex co-axial compositions of equal and opposite topological charges are given in a closed analytic form. Polarization components of the composed beams are specified by their radial and azimuthal indices. The longitudinal components are common for beam compositions of both types; meanwhile, their transverse components are different and comprise two—nonparaxial and paraxial—separate parts distinguished by a paraxial parameter and its inverse, respectively. The new solutions may appear useful in modeling and tailoring of arbitrary vector beams.     

Propagation properties of radially polarized Pearcey–Gauss vortex beams in free space

We investigate a family of radially polarized Pearcey–Gauss vortex beams(RPPGVBs), obtain the general propagation expressions of an RPPGVB, and study the intensity distribution, phase pattern, spin currents as well as the orbital currents when the RPPGVB propagates in free space. The focal plane and the intensity of the focal point can be adjusted by changing the position of the vortex and the scaling factors. We also investigate how the waist size influences the propagation properties.