Optical vortex generation from molecular chromophore arrays

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a novel method to generate optical vortex light directly from molecular chromophore arrays, using exciton symmetry to produce vortices with arbitrary topological charge.

Contribution

It introduces a new mechanism for vortex generation via twisted light emission from chromophore nano-arrays, bypassing traditional optical element-based methods.

Findings

Chromophore arrays can produce twisted light with specific phase structures.

Exciton symmetry determines the maximum topological charge of the vortex.

Conditions for generating vortices of arbitrary topological charge are established.

Abstract

The generation of light endowed with orbital angular momentum, frequently termed optical vortex light, is commonly achieved by passing a conventional beam through suitably constructed optical elements. This Letter shows that the necessary phase structure for vortex propagation can be directly produced through the creation of twisted light from the vacuum. The mechanism is based on optical emission from a family of chromophore nano-arrays that satisfy specific geometric and symmetry constraints. Each such array can support pairs of electronically delocalized doubly degenerate excitons whose azimuthal phase progression is responsible for the helical wave-front of the emitted radiation. The exciton symmetry dictates the maximum magnitude of topological charge; detailed analysis secures the conditions necessary to deliver optical vortices of arbitrary topological charge.