Integrated Compact Optical Vortex Beam Emitters

TLDR

The angular momentum of photons can be used to encode and transmit information. They developed a reconfigurable, scalable silicon photonic chip that generates and emits controllable orbital angular momentum states by embedding micro‑ring resonators with angular gratings to imprint optical angular momentum onto whispering‑gallery‑mode light. The method may enable large‑scale integration of optical vortex emitters on complementary metal‑oxide‑semiconductor‑compatible silicon chips. Cai et al.

Abstract

A Twist of Light The angular momentum of photons can be used to encode and transmit information. Cai et al. (p. 363 ) developed a method for generating and emitting controllable orbital angular momentum states of light from a reconfigurable and scalable silicon photonic chip. Using micro-ring resonators embedded with angular gratings allowed the imprinting of optical angular momentum on the light propagating in the whispering gallery modes of the resonator. The method may enable large-scale integration of optical vortex emitters on complementary metal-oxide–semiconductor-compatible silicon chips.