Measuring the orbital angular momentum density for a superposition of Bessel beams

A. Dudley; I. Litvin; A. Forbes

doi:10.1117/12.910779

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10 February 2012 Measuring the orbital angular momentum density for a superposition of Bessel beams

A. Dudley, I. Litvin, A. Forbes

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Proceedings Volume 8274, Complex Light and Optical Forces VI; 827406 (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.910779
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2012, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

In this report we theoretically calculate and experimentally measure the OAM density of a coherent superposition of both symmetric and non-symmetric non-diffracting Bessel beams. Although the intensity pattern of the superimposed field rotates at a fixed angular velocity (which is due to the differing wave-vectors of the component fields), we show that the magnitude and direction of the OAM is dependent on the radial position within the field. We outline a simple approach using only a spatial light modulator to measure the OAM density for a superposition of non-diffracting Bessel beams. Our quantitative measurements are in good agreement with predicted values.

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A. Dudley, I. Litvin, and A. Forbes "Measuring the orbital angular momentum density for a superposition of Bessel beams", Proc. SPIE 8274, Complex Light and Optical Forces VI, 827406 (10 February 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.910779

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