Nanostructured silica spin–orbit optics for modal vortex beam shaping

Abstract Modality is a generic concept of wave-optics at the basis optical information and communications. One challenges photonics technologies based on orbital angular momentum consists in production modal content for both azimuthal radial degrees freedom. This basically requires shaping complex amplitude an incident light beam, which usually made up from adaptive spatial modulators or bespoke devices. Here, we report experimental attempt recent theoretical proposal [ Opt. Lett. 42 , 1966 (2017)] toward various vortex modes Laguerre–Gaussian type relying spin–orbit interaction light. done visible domain elements out silica glass. The idea exploiting combined effects azimuthally-varying geometric phase with that radially-varying propagation features. proposed approach can be readily extended to any wavelength as well other families modes, although some dynamic problems remain solved make it turnkey technology.