Open AccessTopological charge of asymmetric optical vortices
Author(s) -
V. V. Kotlyar,
A. A. Kovalev
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.394273
Subject(s) - physics , topological quantum number , superposition principle , optical vortex , angular momentum , asymmetry , optics , beam (structure) , vortex , symmetry (geometry) , gaussian beam , light beam , gaussian , optical tweezers , quantum mechanics , atomic physics , mathematics , geometry , thermodynamics
We obtain theoretical relationships to define topological charge (TC) of vortex laser beams devoid of radial symmetry, namely asymmetric Laguerre-Gaussian (LG), asymmetric Bessel-Gaussian (BG), and asymmetric Kummer beams, as well as Hermite-Gaussian (HG) vortex beams. Although they are obtained as superposition of respective conventional LG, BG, and HG beams, these beams have the same TC equal to that of a single mode, n. At the same time, the normalized orbital angular momentum (OAM) that the beams carry is different, differently responding to the variation of the beam's asymmetry degree. However, whatever the asymmetry degree, TC of the beams remains unchanged and equals n. Although separate HG beam does not have OAM and TC, superposition of only two HG modes with adjacent numbers (n, n + 1) and a π/2-phase shift produces a modal beam whose TC is -(2n + 1). Theoretical findings are validated via numerical simulation.