Imaging inspired characterization of single photons carrying orbital angular momentum

TL;DR

This paper introduces a simple imaging-based method using a tilted lens and ICCD camera to measure and analyze the orbital angular momentum of single photons, enabling propagation studies and interference observations crucial for quantum communication.

Contribution

It presents a novel, accessible technique for characterizing single-photon OAM states and their propagation, including high-order OAM measurement and self-interference imaging, advancing quantum network tools.

Findings

Measured OAM orders up to 14 in single-photon sources

First imaging of photon self-interference in a modified MZI

Demonstrated propagation monitoring of OAM photons over distance

Abstract

We report on an imaging-inspired measurement of orbital angular momentum (OAM) using only a simple tilted lens and an Intensified Charged Coupled Device (ICCD) camera, allowing us to monitor the propagation of OAM structured photons over distance, crucial for free-space quantum communication networks. We demonstrate measurement of OAM orders as high as 14 in a heralded single-photon source (HSPS) and show, for the first time, the imaged self-interference of photons carrying OAM in a modified Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI). The described methods reveal both the charge and order of a photons OAM, and provide a proof of concept for the interference of a single OAM photon with itself. Using these tools, we are able to study the propagation characteristics of OAM photons over distance, important for estimating transport in free-space quantum links. By translating these classical tools into the quantum domain, we offer a robust and direct approach for the complete characterization of a twisted single-photon source, an important building block of a quantum network.