Generating and synthesizing ultrabroadband twisted light using a compact silicon chip

Compact and broadband manipulation of spatial modes is important in applications exploiting the space domain of light waves. Here, we demonstrate chip-scale generation and synthesization of ultrabroadband orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes (twisted light) on a silicon platform. By introducing a su...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Optics letters 2018-07, Vol.43 (13), p.3140-3143
Main Authors: Zhou, Nan, Zheng, Shuang, Cao, Xiaoping, Gao, Shengqian, Li, Shimao, He, Mingbo, Cai, Xinlun, Wang, Jian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Angular momentum
Broadband
Quantum cryptography
Silicon
Synthesis
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Summary:Compact and broadband manipulation of spatial modes is important in applications exploiting the space domain of light waves. Here, we demonstrate chip-scale generation and synthesization of ultrabroadband orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes (twisted light) on a silicon platform. By introducing a subwavelength holographic fork grating on top of a silicon waveguide, the in-plane guided mode is converted to the free-space OAM mode. Inputs from both sides of the waveguide enable the synthesization of OAM modes. We also characterize wavelength-dependent emission efficiency, offset angle, and purity with favorable performance. The chip-scale ultrabroadband OAM generator and synthesizer may find potential applications in multidimensional optical communications and quantum key distribution.
ISSN:0146-9592
1539-4794
DOI:10.1364/OL.43.003140