Jonathan Leach and Miles Padgett 2003 New J. Phys. 5 154 doi:10.1088/1367-2630/5/1/154
Jonathan Leach and Miles Padgett
Show affiliationsUsing a spatial light modulator to modify the phase of a light beam we create a spatially coherent, white-light beam containing an optical vortex. All the spectral components are helically phased; hence the beam carries an orbital angular momentum that is an integer multiple of
per photon. A low-dispersion prism, positioned after the modulator, ensures that the vortices associated with each spectral component are co-axial. In addition, deliberate introduction of slight spectral dispersion means that the vortices associated with each wavelength no longer overlap. Subsequent examination near the beam axis reveals the chromatic effects predicted by Berry (2002 New J. Phys. 4 66; 74).
Issue 1 (November 2003)
Received 17 October 2003
Published 19 November 2003
Jonathan Leach and Miles Padgett 2003 New J. Phys. 5 154
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