Logo
ScienceStack
Table of Contents
Fetching ...
Sign In

Generation of Deep Ultraviolet Optical Vortices via Amplitude and Phase Spiral Zone Plates

A. S. Dyatlov, M. A. Nozdrin, A. N. Sergeev, N. E. Sheremet, S. S. Stafeev, D. V. Karlovets

TL;DR

This work demonstrates direct generation of deep-UV optical vortices at $\lambda=262$ nm using amplitude and phase Spiral Zone Plates, fabricated on fused silica to withstand high fluence. The phase SZP achieves higher efficiency ($\sim$40%) than the amplitude SZP ($\sim$10%), and both produce vortices with topological charge $|\ell|=1$, enabling OAM transfer to relativistic electrons when integrated into an RF photoinjector drive laser. By embedding SZPs directly into the accelerator laser chain, the study shows robust operation in a high-power DUV environment and offers a scalable, relatively inexpensive path to structured light for accelerator physics and quantum electron optics. The findings highlight SZPs as a practical alternative to SLMs or harmonic upconversion for DUV vortex generation, with potential impact on relativistic beam shaping and advanced diagnostics in beamlines.

Abstract

We present the development and experimental implementation of diffractive optical elements designed to generate optical vortices in the deep ultraviolet range (from 260 to 266 nm). These elements, fabricated using advanced lithographic and etching techniques, facilitate the efficient transformation of Gaussian beams into twisted modes carrying orbital angular momentum. Experimental tests conducted using the laser driver of an RF photoinjector at JINR successfully demonstrate the generation of deep-ultraviolet optical vortices with a topological charge of l = 1. These findings underscore the potential of structured light in the deep ultraviolet range for applications in relativistic electron beam studies and beam manipulation technologies.

Generation of Deep Ultraviolet Optical Vortices via Amplitude and Phase Spiral Zone Plates

TL;DR

This work demonstrates direct generation of deep-UV optical vortices at nm using amplitude and phase Spiral Zone Plates, fabricated on fused silica to withstand high fluence. The phase SZP achieves higher efficiency (40%) than the amplitude SZP (10%), and both produce vortices with topological charge , enabling OAM transfer to relativistic electrons when integrated into an RF photoinjector drive laser. By embedding SZPs directly into the accelerator laser chain, the study shows robust operation in a high-power DUV environment and offers a scalable, relatively inexpensive path to structured light for accelerator physics and quantum electron optics. The findings highlight SZPs as a practical alternative to SLMs or harmonic upconversion for DUV vortex generation, with potential impact on relativistic beam shaping and advanced diagnostics in beamlines.

Abstract

We present the development and experimental implementation of diffractive optical elements designed to generate optical vortices in the deep ultraviolet range (from 260 to 266 nm). These elements, fabricated using advanced lithographic and etching techniques, facilitate the efficient transformation of Gaussian beams into twisted modes carrying orbital angular momentum. Experimental tests conducted using the laser driver of an RF photoinjector at JINR successfully demonstrate the generation of deep-ultraviolet optical vortices with a topological charge of l = 1. These findings underscore the potential of structured light in the deep ultraviolet range for applications in relativistic electron beam studies and beam manipulation technologies.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 11 sections, 2 equations, 10 figures, 1 table.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Design and Manufacturing
  3. Fabrication Process
  4. Experiments and Results
  5. Experimental Setup
  6. Results
  7. Discussion and Conclusion
  8. Advantages and Comparison with Other Methods
  9. Error Analysis and Limitations
  10. Comparison with Spiral Phase Plate
  11. Future Outlook

Figures (10)

  • Figure 1: Fabricated amplitude spiral zone plate. Left: amplitude mask; right: diffractive optical element
  • Figure 2: Fabricated phase spiral zone plate. Left: phase mask; right: diffractive optical element
  • Figure 3: Experimental scheme for vortex beam generation and analysis in the DUV range. The setup includes a collimating lens ($L_1$), a beam expander telescope ($L_2 - L_3$) to fully illuminate the Spiral Zone Plates (SZP) and a mode converter (Cyl. Lens) for analysis.
  • Figure 4: Simulation results of the diffraction experiment at an amplitude spiral zone plate. Left: optical vortices; Right: converted mode obtained after the vortex beam passes through the cylindrical lens.
  • Figure 5: Simulation results of the diffraction experiment at a phase spiral zone plate. Left: optical vortices; Right: converted mode obtained after the vortex beam passes through the cylindrical lens.
  • ...and 5 more figures