Generation of Vortex Optical Beams Based on Chiral Fiber-Optic Periodic Structures

Sensors (Basel). 2020 Sep 18;20(18):5345. doi: 10.3390/s20185345.

Abstract

In this paper, we consider the process of fiber vortex modes generation using chiral periodic structures that include both chiral optical fibers and chiral (vortex) fiber Bragg gratings (ChFBGs). A generalized theoretical model of the ChFBG is developed including an arbitrary function of apodization and chirping, which provides a way to calculate gratings that generate vortex modes with a given state for the required frequency band and reflection coefficient. In addition, a matrix method for describing the ChFBG is proposed, based on the mathematical apparatus of the coupled modes theory and scattering matrices. Simulation modeling of the fiber structures considered is carried out. Chiral optical fibers maintaining optical vortex propagation are also described. It is also proposed to use chiral fiber-optic periodic structures as sensors of physical fields (temperature, strain, etc.), which can be applied to address multi-sensor monitoring systems due to a unique address parameter-the orbital angular momentum of optical radiation.

Keywords: apodization; chiral structures; chirp; coupled modes theory; fiber Bragg gratings; orbital angular momentum.