Efficient generation and sorting of orbital angular momentum eigenmodes of light by thermally tuned q-plates
Abstract
We present methods for generating and for sorting specific orbital angular momentum (OAM) eigenmodes of a light beam with high efficiency, using a liquid crystal birefringent plate with unit topological charge known as "q-plate." The generation efficiency has been optimized by tuning the optical retardation of the q-plate with temperature. The measured OAM m =±2 eigenmodes generation efficiency from an input TEM00 beam was of 97%. Mode sorting of the two input OAM m =±2 eigenmodes was achieved with an efficiency of 81%.
- Publication:
-
Applied Physics Letters
- Pub Date:
- June 2009
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.3154549
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0905.0562
- Bibcode:
- 2009ApPhL..94w1124K
- Keywords:
-
- 42.79.Ci;
- 42.79.Kr;
- Filters zone plates and polarizers;
- Display devices liquid-crystal devices;
- Physics - Optics
- E-Print:
- 4 pages, 3 Figures and 1 table. Submitted