Open AccessCreation of vortex lattices by a wavefront division
Author(s) -
Jan Masajada,
Agnieszka Popiołek-Masajada,
Monika Leniec
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.15.005196
Subject(s) - vortex , physics , optics , wavefront , optical vortex , diffraction , opacity , lattice (music) , interferometry , interference (communication) , computer science , telecommunications , channel (broadcasting) , acoustics , thermodynamics
The Young's double-slit experiment is one of the most popular stories in the history of physics. This paper, like many others, has emerged from the Young's idea. It investigates the diffraction of the plane or spherical wave produced by three or four small holes in an opaque screen. It was noticed that the interference field contained a lattice of optical vortices which were equivalent to those produced in optical vortex interferometer. The vortex lattice generated by the three holes possessed some unique properties from which the analytical formulae for vortex points position were derived. We also pointed out the differences between our case and the double-slit experiment. Finally, some remarks on possible applications of our arrangement are discussed briefly. These theoretical considerations are illustrated with the use of experimental results.