Propagation dynamics of vortices in Helico-Conical optical beams

TL;DR

This paper investigates the propagation behavior of optical vortices in helico-conical beams through numerical simulations and experiments, revealing inward radial transport and angular motion of vortices affecting beam energy flow.

Contribution

It provides a detailed numerical and experimental analysis of vortex dynamics in helico-conical beams, highlighting their inward transport and angular motion during propagation.

Findings

Peripheral vortices move inward toward the optical axis.

Vortices with a central vortex exhibit significant angular motion.

Vortex dynamics influence energy flow and wave profile reconstruction.

Abstract

We present the dynamics of optical vortices (OVs) that came from the propagation of helico-conical optical beam. This dynamics is investigated numerically by tracking the OVs at several distances using rigorous scalar diffraction theory. To ensure that our numerical calculations are correct, we compare the intensity profiles and their corresponding interferograms taken at different propagation distances between simulations and experiments. We observe that the peripheral isopolar vortices transport radially inward, toward the optical axis along the transverse spatial space as the beam propagates. When the beam has a central vortex, these vortices have significant induced angular rates of motion about the optical axis. These propagation dynamics of vortices influence the internal energy flow and the wave profile reconstruction of the beam, which can be important when deciding their applications.