Influence of atmospheric turbulence on optical communications using orbital angular momentum for encoding

Author(s): Mehul Malik, Malcolm O’Sullivan, Brandon Rodenburg, Mohammad Mirhosseini, Jonathan Leach, Martin P. J. Lavery, Miles J. Padgett, and Robert W. Boyd

Abstract:

“We describe an experimental implementation of a free-space 11-dimensional communication system using orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes. This system has a maximum measured OAM channel capacity of 2.12 bits/photon. The effects of Kolmogorov thin-phase turbulence on the OAM channel capacity are quantified. We find that increasing the turbulence leads to a degradation of the channel capacity. We are able to mitigate the effects of turbulence by increasing the spacing between detected OAM modes. This study has implications for high-dimensional quantum key distribution (QKD) systems. We describe the sort of QKD system that could be built using our current technology.”

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Publication: Optics Express, (free download)
Issue/Year: Optics Express, Vol. 20, Issue 12, pp. 13195-13200 (2012)
DOI: 10.1364/OE.20.013195

Parallel phase-shifting digital holography with adaptive function using phase-mode spatial light modulator

Author(s): Miao Lin, Kouichi Nitta, Osamu Matoba, and Yasuhiro Awatsuji

Abstract:

“Parallel phase-shifting digital holography using a phase-mode spatial light modulator (SLM) is proposed. The phase-mode SLM implements spatial distribution of phase retardation required in the parallel phase-shifting digital holography. This SLM can also compensate dynamically the phase distortion caused by optical elements such as beam splitters, lenses, and air fluctuation. Experimental demonstration using a static object is presented.”

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Publication: Applied Optics, (subscription required)
Issue/Year: Applied Optics, Vol. 51, Issue 14, pp. 2633-2637 (2012)
DOI: 10.1364/AO.51.002633

An active coronagraph using a liquid crystal array for exoplanet imaging: principle and testing

Author(s): Xi Zhang, De-Qing Ren, Yong-Tian Zhu and Jiang-Pei Dou.

Abstract:

“High-contrast imaging coronagraphs, used for the detection of exoplanets, have always adopted passive coronagraph optical components. It is therefore impossible to actively optimize the coronagraphs to achieve their best performance. To solve this problem, we propose a novel high-contrast imaging coronagraph which combines a liquid crystal array (LCA) for active pupil apodization and a deformable mirror (DM) for phase correction. The LCA we use is an amplitude-only spatial light modulator. The LCA is well calibrated and compensates for its amplitude non-uniformity and nonlinear intensity responsivity. We measured the imaging contrasts of the coronagraph system with the LCA only and without the DM deployed. Imaging contrasts of 10-4 and 10-5 can be reached at an inner working angular distance of 2.5 and 5λ/D, respectively. A simulation shows that the phase errors on the coronagraph pupil limit the contrast performance. The contrast could be further improved if a DM is deployed to correct the phase errors induced by the LCA and coronagraph optics.”

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Publication: Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics, (subscription required)
Issue/Year: Res. Astron. Astrophys., Vol. 12, Issue 5,(2012)
DOI: 10.1088/1674-4527/12/5/011