Multiplication and division of the orbital angular momentum of light with diffractive transformation optics.

ABSTRACT: We present a method to efficiently multiply or divide the orbital angular momentum (OAM) of light beams using a sequence of two optical elements. The key element is represented by an optical transformation mapping the azimuthal phase gradient of the input OAM beam onto a circular sector. By combining multiple circular-sector transformations into a single optical element, it is possible to multiply the value of the input OAM state by splitting and mapping the phase onto complementary circular sectors. Conversely, by combining multiple inverse transformations, the division of the initial OAM value is achievable by mapping distinct complementary circular sectors of the input beam into an equal number of circular phase gradients. Optical elements have been fabricated in the form of phase-only

SUBMITTER: Ruffato G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6892886 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature