Single-shot characterization of vector beams by generalized measurements

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel interferometric method for single-shot, spatially resolved generalized measurements of vector vortex beams, significantly enhancing data acquisition speed over traditional techniques, with implications for communication and microscopy.

Contribution

The authors develop a positive operator valued measurement (POVM) approach for rapid, single-shot characterization of vector vortex beams, advancing optical measurement capabilities.

Findings

Single-shot measurement of vector vortex beams achieved

Interferometric POVMs outperform traditional tomography methods in speed

Potential applications in communication and dynamic microscopy

Abstract

Vector vortex beams, featuring independent spatial modes in orthogonal polarization components, offer an increase in information density for emerging applications in both classical and quantum communication technology. Recent advances in optical instrumentation have led to the ability of generating and manipulating such beams. Their tomography is generally accomplished by projection measurements to identify polarization as well as spatial modes. In this paper we demonstrate spatially resolved generalized measurements of arbitrary vector vortex beams. We perform positive operator valued measurements (POVMs) in an interferometric setup that characterizes the vector light mode in a single-shot. This offers superior data acquisition speed compared to conventional Stokes tomography techniques, with potential benefits for communication protocols as well as dynamic polarization microscopy of materials.