Customizing the angular memory effect for scattering media

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method to customize the optical memory effect in scattering media using wavefront shaping, enabling control over tilt angles and directions for improved imaging and communication.

Contribution

It proposes an angular memory operator with eigenstates that allow arbitrary correlation of incident and transmitted wave tilts, advancing control over scattering media.

Findings

Eigenstates enable arbitrary tilt correlations.

Wavefront shaping realizes customizable memory effects.

Enhanced control for classical and quantum wave applications.

Abstract

The memory effect in disordered systems is a key physical phenomenon that has been employed for optical imaging, metrology, and communication through opaque media. Under the conventional memory effect, when the incident beam is tilted slightly, the transmitted pattern tilts in the same direction. However, the "memory" is limited in its angular range and tilt direction. Here, we present a general approach to customize the memory effect by introducing an angular memory operator. Its eigenstates possess perfect correlation for tilt angles and directions that can be arbitrarily chosen separately for the incident and transmitted waves, and can be readily realized with wavefront shaping. This work reveals the power of wavefront shaping in creating any desired memory for applications of classical and quantum waves in complex systems.