HELICAL-WAVE-FRONT LASER-BEAMS PRODUCED WITH A SPIRAL PHASEPLATE

Authors
BEIJERSBERGEN MW COERWINKEL RPC KRISTENSEN M WOERDMAN JP
Citation
Mw. Beijersbergen et al., HELICAL-WAVE-FRONT LASER-BEAMS PRODUCED WITH A SPIRAL PHASEPLATE, Optics communications, 112(5-6), 1994, pp. 321-327
Citations number
19
Categorie Soggetti
Optics
Journal title
Optics communications → ACNP
ISSN journal
00304018
Volume
112
Issue
5-6
Year of publication
1994
Pages
321 - 327
Database
ISI
SICI code
0030-4018(1994)112:5-6<321:HLPWAS>2.0.ZU;2-0
Abstract
We demonstrate experimentally that a spiral phaseplate can convert a T EM(infinity) laser beam into a helical-wavefront beam with a phase sin gularity at its axis. The diffractive-optical effect of the spiral pha seplate is implemented by index matching a macroscopic structure in an optical immersion. We discuss the optical properties of a helical wav efront beam produced this way by means of a mode analysis and by Fraun hofer diffraction calculations.