Multispectral Management of the Photon Orbital Angular Momentum

Abstract

We report on a programmable liquid crystal spatial light modulator enabling independent orbital angular momentum state control on multiple spectral channels. This is done by using electrically controllable "topological pixels" that independently behave as geometric phase micro-optical elements relying on self-engineered liquid crystal defects. These results open interesting opportunities in optical manipulation, sensing, imaging, and communications, as well as information processing. In particular, spectral vortex modulation allows considering singular spatiotemporal shaping of ultrashort pulses which may find applications in many areas such as material processing, spectroscopy, or elementary particles acceleration.