Free space evolution of perfect optical vortices through interferometric analysis

Aswathi K. Sivarajan; Harsh Vardhan; Sakshi Choudhary; Salla Gangi Reddy; Ravi Kumar

doi:10.1016/j.optlaseng.2025.109178

Free space evolution of perfect optical vortices through interferometric analysis

Aswathi K. Sivarajan, Harsh Vardhan, Sakshi Choudhary, Salla Gangi Reddy, Ravi Kumar

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The topological charge (TC) independent annular intensity distributions of perfect optical vortex (POV) beams made them exciting for various applications. In this work, we have experimentally generated POV beams of different TC orders and proposed a modified Mach-Zehnder interferometric arrangement for identifying the TC of the generated beam. We also investigated the free space evolution of the POV beam demonstrated that it naturally evolves into a Bessel-Gaussian (BG) beam with propagation. We confirmed this evolution by analysing the propagation of interference patterns as well as comparing the self-healing property of BG beams with the evolved POV beams. The findings are supported by theoretical and experimental results. The presented analysis will facilitate the application of POV beams in areas such as optical imaging, free space communication, optical trapping, etc.

Original language	English
Article number	109178
Journal	Optics and Lasers in Engineering
Volume	194
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optlaseng.2025.109178
State	Published - 1 Nov 2025
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Optical vortices
Singular optics, topological charge
Structured light

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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10.1016/j.optlaseng.2025.109178

Cite this

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title = "Free space evolution of perfect optical vortices through interferometric analysis",

abstract = "The topological charge (TC) independent annular intensity distributions of perfect optical vortex (POV) beams made them exciting for various applications. In this work, we have experimentally generated POV beams of different TC orders and proposed a modified Mach-Zehnder interferometric arrangement for identifying the TC of the generated beam. We also investigated the free space evolution of the POV beam demonstrated that it naturally evolves into a Bessel-Gaussian (BG) beam with propagation. We confirmed this evolution by analysing the propagation of interference patterns as well as comparing the self-healing property of BG beams with the evolved POV beams. The findings are supported by theoretical and experimental results. The presented analysis will facilitate the application of POV beams in areas such as optical imaging, free space communication, optical trapping, etc.",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Free space evolution of perfect optical vortices through interferometric analysis

AU - Sivarajan, Aswathi K.

AU - Vardhan, Harsh

AU - Choudhary, Sakshi

AU - Reddy, Salla Gangi

AU - Kumar, Ravi

PY - 2025/11/1

Y1 - 2025/11/1

N2 - The topological charge (TC) independent annular intensity distributions of perfect optical vortex (POV) beams made them exciting for various applications. In this work, we have experimentally generated POV beams of different TC orders and proposed a modified Mach-Zehnder interferometric arrangement for identifying the TC of the generated beam. We also investigated the free space evolution of the POV beam demonstrated that it naturally evolves into a Bessel-Gaussian (BG) beam with propagation. We confirmed this evolution by analysing the propagation of interference patterns as well as comparing the self-healing property of BG beams with the evolved POV beams. The findings are supported by theoretical and experimental results. The presented analysis will facilitate the application of POV beams in areas such as optical imaging, free space communication, optical trapping, etc.

AB - The topological charge (TC) independent annular intensity distributions of perfect optical vortex (POV) beams made them exciting for various applications. In this work, we have experimentally generated POV beams of different TC orders and proposed a modified Mach-Zehnder interferometric arrangement for identifying the TC of the generated beam. We also investigated the free space evolution of the POV beam demonstrated that it naturally evolves into a Bessel-Gaussian (BG) beam with propagation. We confirmed this evolution by analysing the propagation of interference patterns as well as comparing the self-healing property of BG beams with the evolved POV beams. The findings are supported by theoretical and experimental results. The presented analysis will facilitate the application of POV beams in areas such as optical imaging, free space communication, optical trapping, etc.

KW - Optical vortices

KW - Singular optics, topological charge

KW - Structured light

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DO - 10.1016/j.optlaseng.2025.109178

M3 - Article

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SN - 0143-8166

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JO - Optics and Lasers in Engineering

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ER -

Free space evolution of perfect optical vortices through interferometric analysis

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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