Gouy Phase Radial Mode Sorter for Light: Concepts and Experiments

TL;DR

This paper introduces a lossless radial mode sorter for light based on Gouy phases, enabling complete 2D transverse mode analysis and applications in classical multiplexing and quantum experiments.

Contribution

It presents a novel, experimentally feasible device for sorting radial modes of light using Gouy phases, expanding capabilities for quantum and classical optical information processing.

Findings

Successfully designed a lossless radial mode sorter

Demonstrated the device's ability to sort angular-momentum modes

Potential applications in high-dimensional quantum experiments

Abstract

We present an in principle lossless sorter for radial modes of light, using accumulated Gouy phases. The experimental setups have been found by a computer algorithm, and can be intuitively understood in a geometric way. Together with the ability to sort angular-momentum modes, we now have access to the complete 2-dimensional transverse plane of light. The device can readily be used in multiplexing classical information. On a quantum level, it is an analog of the Stern-Gerlach experiment -- significant for the discussion of fundamental concepts in quantum physics. As such, it can be applied in high-dimensional and multi-photonic quantum experiments.