Work

Generating High‐Fidelity Structured Light Fields Through an Ultrathin Multimode Fiber Using Phase Retrieval

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Light transmission through a multimode fiber (MMF) has gained major importance for imaging and manipulation. The majority of phase retrieval algorithms used for a MMF implicitly assume light propagation to be described by a unitary operation, yet the transmission matrix of a multimode fiber is inherently non‐unitary. It is demonstrated that this erroneous assumption can impede the performance of many commonly used MMF phase retrieval algorithms and demonstrate that the weighted Yang–Gu algorithm outperforms other phase retrieval algorithms in this scenario. Once accounted for, the non‐unitary property of the transmission matrix can be leveraged to generate intricate intensity and phase patterns at the output of the fiber, and shape specific output fields. This is experimentally demonstrated by generating Laguerre–Gaussian beams that carry orbital angular momentum, and by forming images in planes offset from the distal end of the fiber facet.

Source: Advanced Optical Materials

DOI: 10.1002/adom.202401985

Authors: Ralf Mouthaan, Peter J. Christopher, Kishan Dholakia, George S. D. Gordon, Timothy Wilkinson, Tijmen G. Euser

Institutions: University of Cambridge, The University of Adelaide, University of Nottingham, University of St Andrews

Language: English

Topic: Orbital Angular Momentum in Optics

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Australian Research Council

Awards: Holographic beam shaping of high power lasers for additive manufacturing, EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Sensor Technologies and Application, G4595860746, EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Ultra Precision, The Intelligent Microscope - novel optical imaging at depth