Open AccessTopological charge algebra of optical vortices in nonlinear interactions
Author(s) -
Alexandra Zhdanova,
Mariia Shutova,
Aysan Bahari,
Mingjia Zhi,
Alexei V. Sokolov
Publication year - 2015
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.23.034109
Subject(s) - topological quantum number , angular momentum , physics , optical vortex , vortex , orbital angular momentum of light , optics , photon , charge (physics) , topology (electrical circuits) , quantum mechanics , total angular momentum quantum number , mathematics , combinatorics , thermodynamics
We investigate the transfer of orbital angular momentum among multiple beams involved in a coherent Raman interaction. We use a liquid crystal light modulator to shape pump and Stokes beams into optical vortices with various integer values of topological charge, and cross them in a Raman-active crystal to produce multiple Stokes and anti-Stokes sidebands. We measure the resultant vortex charges using a tilted-lens technique. We verify that in every case the generated beams' topological charges obey a simple relationship, resulting from angular momentum conservation for created and annihilated photons, or equivalently, from phase-matching considerations for multiple interacting beams.