Quantum mechanics

Computer hardware

Data transmission

Scattering

Telecommunications

Optical communication

Computer science

Wavelength

Physics

Orbital angular momentum of light

Multiplexing

Total angular momentum quantum number

Optics

Angular momentum

Optical performance monitoring

Crosstalk

Orbital angular momentum multiplexing

Transmission (telecommunications)

Wavelength-division multiplexing

Light Science & Applications

Multiplexing multiple orbital angular momentum (OAM) channels enables high-capacity optical communication. However, optical scattering from ambient microparticles in the atmosphere or mode coupling in optical fibers significantly decreases the orthogonality between OAM channels for demultiplexing and eventually increases crosstalk in communication. Here, we propose a novel scattering-matrix-assisted retrieval technique (SMART) to demultiplex OAM channels from highly scattered optical fields and achieve an experimental crosstalk of –13.8 dB in the parallel sorting of 24 OAM channels after passing through a scattering medium. The SMART is implemented in a self-built data transmission system that employs a digital micromirror device to encode OAM channels and realize reference-free calibration simultaneously, thereby enabling a high tolerance to misalignment. We successfully demonstrate high-fidelity transmission of both gray and color images under scattering conditions at an error rate of &lt;0.08%. This technique might open the door to high-performance optical communication in turbulent environments.

Optical orbital-angular-momentum-multiplexed data transmission under high scattering