Based on our constructed robust π/2 mode converter, we report a concise yet high-efficient experiment to realize the detection of high-order orbital angular momentum (OAM). The π/2 mode converter that consists of a pair of cylindrical lens is actually not new. However, our experiment show clearly its excellent robustness, as we have detected the high-order OAM numbers up to ℓ = 150 carried by standard Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) modes. The observed patterns of two-dimensional optical lattices indicate that the radial index p of LG beams can be straightforwardly inferred as well. Our demonstration has potential in both classical and quantum information applications where high OAM modes are needed.

Date Published: 27 September 2016
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 9950, Laser Beam Shaping XVII, 99500O (27 September 2016); doi: 10.1117/12.2237215

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9950:
Laser Beam Shaping XVII
Andrew Forbes; Todd E. Lizotte, Editor(s)