Transformation optics

Gene

Quantum mechanics

Transformation (genetics)

Phase (matter)

Beam (structure)

Mathematical physics

Biology

Materials science

Light beam

Optical vortex

Vortex

Bessel function

Metamaterial

Biochemistry

Optical communication

Classical mechanics

Thermodynamics

Physics

Orbital angular momentum of light

Total angular momentum quantum number

Mathematics

Optics

Angular momentum

Composite material

Combinatorics

Chemistry

Topology (electrical circuits)

Aluminium

Mechanics

Caustic (mathematics)

Scientific Reports

The orbital angular momentum (OAM) transformation of optical vortex is realized upon using aluminum metasurfaces with phase distributions derived from the caustic theory. The generated OAM transformation beam has the well-defined Bessel-like patterns with multiple designed topological charges from −1 to +2.5 including both the integer-order and fractional-order optical vortices along the propagation. The detailed OAM transformation process is observed in terms of the variations of both beam intensity and phase profiles. The dynamic distributions of OAM mode density in the transformation are further analyzed to illustrate the conservation of the total OAM. The demonstration of transforming OAM states arbitrarily for optical vortex beams will lead to many new applications in optical manipulation, quantum optics, and optical communication.

Orbital angular momentum transformation of optical vortex with aluminum metasurfaces