Mixed vortex states of light as information carriers

Abstract

An original method for encoding of information into the spatial structure of mixed vortex states of light is proposed. It is based on the creation of pseudo-nondiffracting vortex patterns representing a controllable superposition of optical vortices with different topological charges. Weight coefficients of the superposition serve as carriers of information. The different topological charges of the vortices are used as 'markers' enabling vortex spatial separation and information decoding. The proposed concept of information encoding is verified experimentally by means of a spatial light modulator.