M. V. Vasnetsov

Free-space information transfer using light beams carrying orbital angular momentum

We demonstrate the transfer of information encoded as orbital angular momentum (OAM) states of a light beam. The transmitter and receiver units are based on spatial light modulators, which prepare or measure a laser beam in one of eight pure OAM states. We show that the information encoded in this way is resistant to eavesdropping in the sense that any attempt to sample the beam away from its axis will be subject to an angular restriction and a lateral offset, both of which result in inherent uncertainty in the measurement. This gives an experimental insight into the effects of aperturing and misalignment of the beam on the OAM measurement and demonstrates the uncertainty relationship for OAM.

Optics of light beams with screw dislocations

Abstract The results of an experimental study in optics of waves with screw dislocations are reported. The structure of the screw dislocations of different charges produced by diffraction on the computer-synthesized grating or by nonlinear processes of second- harmonic generation is experimentally studied and discussed. The rotation of a pair of first-order screw dislocations with equal signs and annihilation of a pair of dislocations of opposite signs were detected in good agreement with theoretical predictions.

Screw Dislocations in Light Wavefronts

Abstract We discuss screw dislocations of a phase surface as the one type of wavefront of a monochromatic wave. The simple method for construction of the optical wavefronts with an isolated screw dislocation is reported. Laser beams with the dislocations of different orders were experimentally achieved by using diffraction on computer-synthesized gratings.

Angular momentum of optical vortex arrays

Guided by the aim to construct light fields with spin-like orbital angular momentum (OAM), that is light fields with a uniform and intrinsic OAM density, we investigate the OAM of arrays of optical vortices with rectangular symmetry. We find that the OAM per unit cell depends on the choice of unit cell and can even change sign when the unit cell is translated. This is the case even if the OAM in each unit cell is intrinsic, that is independent of the choice of measurement axis. We show that spin-like OAM can be found only if the OAM per unit cell vanishes. Our results are applicable to the z component of the angular momentum of any x- and y-periodic momentum distribution in the xy plane, and can also be applied other periodic light beams, arrays of rotating massive objects and periodic motion of liquids.

BIRTH AND EVOLUTION OF WAVE-FRONT DISLOCATIONS IN A LASER BEAM PASSED THROUGH A PHOTOREFRACTIVE LINBO3 : FE CRYSTAL

We report on an experimental and numerical investigation of the process of spontaneous optical vortices nucleation in a wave front of a laser beam passed through a photorefractive LiNbO3 : Fe crystal with self-induced nonlinear lens. The complex lens structure produces mainly defocusing of the beam passing through the crystal due to a negative variation of the refractive index, whereas side parts of the lens have a positive sign of refractive-index variation and partially focus the beam. The resulting wave-front distortions lead to a phase bifurcation occurring at a certain distance after the crystal when the amplitude of the light wave becomes zero. We study in detail the process of edge dislocation nucleation and its decay in the near field producing a pair of unity-charged opposite-sign screw dislocations. After birth, they spread along dislocation axes as stable objects.

Increasing the data density of free-space optical communications using orbital angular momentum

Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) light beams possess discrete values of orbital angular momentum (OAM) of l&barh; per photon, where l is the azimuthal index of the mode. In principle l can take on any integer number, resulting in an unlimited amount of information that can be carried by any part of the beam - even a single photon. We have developed a technology demonstrator that uses OAM to encode information onto a light beam for free-space optical communications. In our demonstrator units both the encoding and decoding of the orbital angular momentum states is achieved using diffractive optical components (holograms). We use 9 different OAM values; one value is used for alignment purposes, the others carry data.

NONLINEAR GRATING INTERACTION IN PHOTOREFRACTIVE BI12SIO20

Recently significant crosstalk has been observed in a multibeam experiment in which gratings were previously thought to be independent. In this letter, it is shown that the crosstalk is due to a coherent nonlinear combination of the primary gratings, which causes additional peaks to occur in the diffraction pattern and changes the diffraction efficiency of the primary gratings explaining the apparent crosstalk. It is shown that the effect can be derived from the band transport model when all the terms in the expression for the generation of charge carriers are retained. Results are presented for a configuration consisting of a reference beam and two object beams and show experimental results that confirm the model.

Dynamics of Laser-Induced Bubble and Free-Surface Oscillations in an Absorbing Liquid

A series of laser-driven dynamic photocapillary effects in absorbing liquid are described. We have observed self-oscillations of the free surface of a liquid (iodine solution in ethanol) and laser-induced bubble trapping and oscillations excited by a low power cw argon laser.

Observation of polarization conflict caused by geometrical phase in a twisted nematic liquid crystal cell

We analyze the optical effects associated with an adiabatic rotation of a plane of polarization in a twisted nematic liquid crystal. The experimental verification was performed with a cell with linear rubbing of a front surface and circular rubbing of a rear surface. The expectations of the liquid crystals orientation defect origin along the line of the maximum tension and a polarization conflict caused by geometrical phase are confirmed.

First Approach to the Analysis of the Lasing Conditions in POLIPHEM© Structures

We report a study devoted to the creation of a distributed feedback device on a basis of waveguide with periodical composition polymer – liquid crystal. Due to the refractive indices difference between the components the Bragg diffraction grating is formed, which provides coupling of the forward and backward propagating waves. The influence of the gain and conditions of laser oscillation threshold are analyzed for gain-type reflection grating. The conclusion is done on the advantage of second-order Bragg diffraction exploitation. Numerical simulations demonstrated the stability of the waveguide mode.