Open AccessParallel sorting of orbital and spin angular momenta of light in a record large number of channels
Author(s) -
Gary F. Walsh,
Luciano De Sio,
David E. Roberts,
Nelson V. Tabiryan,
Francisco J. Aranda,
Brian R. Kimball
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
optics letters/optics index
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.524
H-Index - 272
eISSN - 1071-2763
pISSN - 0146-9592
DOI - 10.1364/ol.43.002256
Subject(s) - angular momentum , physics , orbital angular momentum of light , orbital angular momentum multiplexing , total angular momentum quantum number , angular momentum coupling , optics , multiplexing , spin (aerodynamics) , azimuthal quantum number , orbital motion , angular momentum of light , sorting , light beam , quantum mechanics , telecommunications , computer science , thermodynamics , programming language
Parallel sorting of orbital and spin angular momentum components of structured optical beams is demonstrated. Both spin channels are multiplexed within the novel orbital angular momentum (OAM) sorter, reducing the size, weight, and number of elements. The sorted states are linearly spaced over 70 topological charge values. We experimentally and theoretically evaluate the operational range and crosstalk between neighboring channels and find that 30 orbital angular momentum states are available per spin channel for quantum communication or cryptography. This is achieved using an angular momentum sorter that we developed based on geometric phase optical elements. We present two devices consisting of liquid crystal polymer films photoaligned with complex two-dimensional patterns.