Diffraction properties of lights with transverse orbital angular momentum

TL;DR

This paper investigates how spatiotemporal optical vortices with transverse orbital angular momentum diffract through gratings, revealing multi-lobe diffraction patterns that depend on topological charge, advancing understanding for optical communication applications.

Contribution

The study provides the first combined theoretical and experimental analysis of the diffraction properties of STOVs with transverse OAM, highlighting their unique diffraction patterns and potential for optical communication.

Findings

Diffraction patterns exhibit multi-lobe structures with gaps corresponding to topological charge.

Transverse OAM significantly influences the diffraction behavior of STOVs.

Results facilitate fast detection of STOVs with different topological charges.

Abstract

Spatiotemporal optical vortex (STOV) is a unique optical vortex with phase singularity in the space-time domain and the photons in a STOV can carry transverse orbital angular momentum (OAM). The STOV shows many fantastic properties which are worth exploring. Here, we theoretically and experimentally study the diffraction property of STOV, which is a fundamental wave phenomenon. The diffraction behaviors of STOVs are obviously affected by the transverse OAM. The diffraction patterns of STOV pulses diffracted by a grating show multi-lobe structure with each gap corresponding to 1 topological charge. The diffraction properties of lights with transverse OAM are demonstrated clearly and help us understanding the physical properties of STOV, which will be of special applications, such as the realization of fast detection of STOVs with different topological charges, which may pay the way for STOV based optical communication.