Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical Review A

Characterizing interference effects of vortex beams based on the Sagnac interferometer

Mairikena Aili, Xiao-Xiao Chen, Pan Liu, Jia-Zhi Yang, Xue Guo, Jian Li, Zhe Meng, Qingyuan Wu, An‐Ning Zhang

Published Aug 26, 2022• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Orbital angular momentum (OAM) of photons has applications both in classical and quantum information due to its features of optical vortex and infinite dimensions. This paper studies the interference effects of optical vortex beams carrying mixed, conjugate, and single-mode OAM states based on the Sagnac interferometer with light sources of a laser and single photon. We compare our results with numerical simulations and show that the light intensity distribution and phase characteristics can directly characterize the absolute value of the topological charge (TC) carried by vortex beams. Furthermore, our scheme can also classify the photon with positive and negative signs of TC in the mixed mode OAM state by changing the relative phase. The results not only extend the manipulation methods for high-dimensional quantum states, but also lay a solid foundation for the application of vortex beams in a single-photon field.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.106.023715

Related papers

Double-slit experiment with multiple vortex beams

Mairikena Aili, Pan Liu, Xiao-Xiao Chen +5 more

The orbital angular momentum (OAM) of a vortex beam has already found significant potential applications in both quantum and classical communication systems. In this study, a realization of a double-slit experiment using a Sagnac interferometer is conducted for the detection and discrimination of vortex beams. Based on the advantages of convenient and adjustable double-slit parameters of our device, we detected multiple vortex beams carrying different OAM modes and superpositions of OAM modes under laser and single-photon illumination. We also analyzed the influence of the slit parameters on the interference pattern of the vortex beams. The results show that by comparing the differences in these interference patterns, we can achieve the measurement of topological charge and complete distinction of OAM states carried by the vortex beams. Our study contributes to coding research on laser and quantum communication.

Physical Review A•Jan 29, 2024•5 citations

Realisation of orbital angular momentum sorter of photons based on sagnac interferometer

Fu Dong-Zhi, Jia Jun-Liang, Zhou Ying-Nan +4 more

Orbital angular momentum (OAM) of photons has both classical and quantum applications due to its feature of optical vortex and infinite dimension. OAM discrimination is one of the basic problems, which has been paid much attention recently. Here we present an interferometer method in which a Sagnac interferometer with a Dove prism is placed on each arm to separate the different OAM of photons into different output ports, namely, OAM sorters. We demonstrate experimentally the feasibility of OAM sorter by dividing different OAM states into different output ports. Using the cascade interferometers, we also sort the superposition state successfully. Experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions. Compared with other methods, this method is more stable and can be used to separate superposition states into single photon levels. Furthermore, this method can also be used to couple OAM modes with spatial modes, a very important method for manipulating OAM states. It is a useful method and has potential applications in high-capacity optical communication, quantum entanglement, quantum cryptography, quantum computation and quantum information.

Acta Physica Sinica•Jan 1, 2015•3 citations

The interference properties of single-photon vortex beams in Mach–Zehnder interferometer

Xue Guo, Zhe Meng, Jian Li +3 more

Orbital angular momentum (OAM) is a unique degree of freedom for vortex beams. It is very important to study the interference of vortex beams carrying OAM in quantum information science. In this paper, we study the interference phenomenon of vortex beams based on a stable and adjustable Mach–Zehnder (MZ) interferometer using a laser and a single-photon as light sources. Furthermore, we also show the evolution of the different initial states in the MZ interferometer, and the interferograms of initial states vary with changing the interferometer phase. Our research not only helps us to understand the special phenomenon of OAM in the MZ interferometer but also provides some theoretical and experimental support for OAM as a quantum information carrier.

Applied Physics Letters•Jul 5, 2021•12 citations

Influence of random media on orbital angular momentum quantum states of optical vortex beams

Donghui Yang, Zheng-Da Hu, Shuailing Wang +1 more

Photonic orbital angular momentum (OAM) carrying orthogonal modes exhibits fascinating nature for information encoding. Here we focus on the propagation of OAM states in random media to investigate the turbulence-induced OAM degradation. We utilize the quadratic approximation of the phase structure function to derive a global continuous expression of OAM probability at the single-photon level. The expression provides a general insight into the energy transition between signal and crosstalk modes in random media. Especially for each crosstalk mode, our expression is accurate in predicting the second-order energy transition. The effectiveness of our model is validated via experimental data and simulations in various random media. We also reveal the universality of entangled optical vortex beams and obtain an expression of concurrence. It is demonstrated that utilizing high-order optical vortex beams can effectively improve the antijamming ability and enhance the propagation distance of entanglement. Our results provide a universal framework for OAM propagation through different random media.

Physical Review A•May 16, 2022•16 citations

Inter-modal interference of arbitrary orbital angular momentum modes in nonlinear frequency conversion

Biao Xing, Xuewen Wang, Lirong Wang Lirong Wang +3 more

Nonlinear interaction between orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes provides an enticing promise for realizing high-dimensional quantum states and multimodal communications. Here, we demonstrate the inter-modal interference of OAM modes based on the nonlinear frequency conversion of perfect vortex beams, permitting the arbitrary spatial intensity and phase information to be transformed and manipulated from 778 nm input beam to 420 nm output beam. The conversion of single OAM state obeys the typical arithmetic operation. In contrast, the conversion of superposition state is predicted and revealed as the inter-modal interference of full spatial complex amplitude. For the allowed OAM modes, the probability amplitude is quantitatively analyzed by the intensity overlap of input OAM modes, which determines the degree of degradation in the intensity and phase. As a result, the output beam exhibits the nonuniform petal-shaped intensity and phase distributions under the conditions of phase matching and OAM conservation. Furthermore, the inherent transverse structure invariance of perfect vortex beams enables them to accommodate and support larger OAM values and more superposition states.

Frontiers of Physics•Jan 1, 2026•2 citations

Angular momentum conversion in the influence of vortex light on electromagnetically induced transparency

Tang Jiangmin, ZHANG Jingtao

In the burgeoning field of light-matter interactions, angular momentum has emerged as a pivotal factor, driving innovative research directions. This study delves into the interaction dynamics between vortex lights and an electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) medium, with a primary focus on elucidating the underlying mechanism of angular momentum transfer. Through comprehensive theoretical analysis and numerical simulations, it is demonstrated that when the probe field carries orbital angular momentum (OAM), the dispersion and absorption characteristics of the EIT medium undergo periodic modulation. This modulation is intricately determined by the azimuthal phase and topological charge of the beam. Notably, the OAM in the driving field exerts no such influence on the medium's properties. Leveraging vortex phase plates (VPPs) or spatial light modulators (SLMs) to manipulate the tunable OAM enables dynamic control over the EIT effect. This breakthrough not only deepens our understanding of light-matter interactions at the quantum level but also unlocks new avenues for high-dimensional quantum information processing and advanced optical communication technologies.

•Oct 1, 2025•0 citations
Orbital angular momentum (OAM) of photons has applications both in classical and quantum information due to its features of optical vortex and infinite dimensions. This paper studies the interference effects of optical vortex beams carrying mixed, conjugate, and single-mode OAM states based on the Sagnac interferometer with light sources of a laser and single photon. We compare our results with numerical simulations and show that the light intensity distribution and phase characteristics can directly characterize the absolute value of the topological charge (TC) carried by vortex beams. Furthermore, our scheme can also classify the photon with positive and negative signs of TC in the mixed mode OAM state by changing the relative phase. The results not only extend the manipulation methods for high-dimensional quantum states, but also lay a solid foundation for the application of vortex beams in a single-photon field.
The orbital angular momentum (OAM) of a vortex beam has already found significant potential applications in both quantum and classical communication systems. In this study, a realization of a double-slit experiment using a Sagnac interferometer is conducted for the detection and discrimination of vortex beams. Based on the advantages of convenient and adjustable double-slit parameters of our device, we detected multiple vortex beams carrying different OAM modes and superpositions of OAM modes under laser and single-photon illumination. We also analyzed the influence of the slit parameters on the interference pattern of the vortex beams. The results show that by comparing the differences in these interference patterns, we can achieve the measurement of topological charge and complete distinction of OAM states carried by the vortex beams. Our study contributes to coding research on laser and quantum communication.
Orbital angular momentum (OAM) of photons has both classical and quantum applications due to its feature of optical vortex and infinite dimension. OAM discrimination is one of the basic problems, which has been paid much attention recently. Here we present an interferometer method in which a Sagnac interferometer with a Dove prism is placed on each arm to separate the different OAM of photons into different output ports, namely, OAM sorters. We demonstrate experimentally the feasibility of OAM sorter by dividing different OAM states into different output ports. Using the cascade interferometers, we also sort the superposition state successfully. Experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions. Compared with other methods, this method is more stable and can be used to separate superposition states into single photon levels. Furthermore, this method can also be used to couple OAM modes with spatial modes, a very important method for manipulating OAM states. It is a useful method and has potential applications in high-capacity optical communication, quantum entanglement, quantum cryptography, quantum computation and quantum information.
Orbital angular momentum (OAM) is a unique degree of freedom for vortex beams. It is very important to study the interference of vortex beams carrying OAM in quantum information science. In this paper, we study the interference phenomenon of vortex beams based on a stable and adjustable Mach–Zehnder (MZ) interferometer using a laser and a single-photon as light sources. Furthermore, we also show the evolution of the different initial states in the MZ interferometer, and the interferograms of initial states vary with changing the interferometer phase. Our research not only helps us to understand the special phenomenon of OAM in the MZ interferometer but also provides some theoretical and experimental support for OAM as a quantum information carrier.
Photonic orbital angular momentum (OAM) carrying orthogonal modes exhibits fascinating nature for information encoding. Here we focus on the propagation of OAM states in random media to investigate the turbulence-induced OAM degradation. We utilize the quadratic approximation of the phase structure function to derive a global continuous expression of OAM probability at the single-photon level. The expression provides a general insight into the energy transition between signal and crosstalk modes in random media. Especially for each crosstalk mode, our expression is accurate in predicting the second-order energy transition. The effectiveness of our model is validated via experimental data and simulations in various random media. We also reveal the universality of entangled optical vortex beams and obtain an expression of concurrence. It is demonstrated that utilizing high-order optical vortex beams can effectively improve the antijamming ability and enhance the propagation distance of entanglement. Our results provide a universal framework for OAM propagation through different random media.
Nonlinear interaction between orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes provides an enticing promise for realizing high-dimensional quantum states and multimodal communications. Here, we demonstrate the inter-modal interference of OAM modes based on the nonlinear frequency conversion of perfect vortex beams, permitting the arbitrary spatial intensity and phase information to be transformed and manipulated from 778 nm input beam to 420 nm output beam. The conversion of single OAM state obeys the typical arithmetic operation. In contrast, the conversion of superposition state is predicted and revealed as the inter-modal interference of full spatial complex amplitude. For the allowed OAM modes, the probability amplitude is quantitatively analyzed by the intensity overlap of input OAM modes, which determines the degree of degradation in the intensity and phase. As a result, the output beam exhibits the nonuniform petal-shaped intensity and phase distributions under the conditions of phase matching and OAM conservation. Furthermore, the inherent transverse structure invariance of perfect vortex beams enables them to accommodate and support larger OAM values and more superposition states.
In the burgeoning field of light-matter interactions, angular momentum has emerged as a pivotal factor, driving innovative research directions. This study delves into the interaction dynamics between vortex lights and an electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) medium, with a primary focus on elucidating the underlying mechanism of angular momentum transfer. Through comprehensive theoretical analysis and numerical simulations, it is demonstrated that when the probe field carries orbital angular momentum (OAM), the dispersion and absorption characteristics of the EIT medium undergo periodic modulation. This modulation is intricately determined by the azimuthal phase and topological charge of the beam. Notably, the OAM in the driving field exerts no such influence on the medium's properties. Leveraging vortex phase plates (VPPs) or spatial light modulators (SLMs) to manipulate the tunable OAM enables dynamic control over the EIT effect. This breakthrough not only deepens our understanding of light-matter interactions at the quantum level but also unlocks new avenues for high-dimensional quantum information processing and advanced optical communication technologies.