Increasing the data density of free-space optical communications using orbital angular momentum

Graham Gibson II; Johannes Courtial; Mikhail Vasnetsov; Steve Barnett; Sonja Franke-Arnold; Miles Padgett

doi:10.1117/12.557176

20 October 2004 Increasing the data density of free-space optical communications using orbital angular momentum

Graham Gibson II, Johannes Courtial, Mikhail Vasnetsov, Steve Barnett, Sonja Franke-Arnold, Miles Padgett

Proceedings Volume 5550, Free-Space Laser Communications IV; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.557176
Event: Optical Science and Technology, the SPIE 49th Annual Meeting, 2004, Denver, Colorado, United States

Abstract

Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) light beams possess discrete values of orbital angular momentum (OAM) of l&barh; per photon, where l is the azimuthal index of the mode. In principle l can take on any integer number, resulting in an unlimited amount of information that can be carried by any part of the beam - even a single photon. We have developed a technology demonstrator that uses OAM to encode information onto a light beam for free-space optical communications. In our demonstrator units both the encoding and decoding of the orbital angular momentum states is achieved using diffractive optical components (holograms). We use 9 different OAM values; one value is used for alignment purposes, the others carry data.

Citation Download Citation

Graham Gibson II, Johannes Courtial, Mikhail Vasnetsov, Steve Barnett, Sonja Franke-Arnold, and Miles Padgett "Increasing the data density of free-space optical communications using orbital angular momentum", Proc. SPIE 5550, Free-Space Laser Communications IV, (20 October 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.557176

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available