Exotic Optical Beam Classes for Free-Space Communication

Abstract

The goal of this project was to study and optimize special classes of optical beams, with particular attention paid to beams with partial coherence or nested vortex structures, or combinations of the two. For intensity-based communication and remote sensing, partially coherent beams were studied with the goal of minimizing intensity fluctuations induced by random media. More recently, researchers have been interested in using the discrete topological phase core of optical vortex beams as an alternate carrier of information. Properties of vortex beams, both coherent and partially coherent, were investigated, and properties of partially coherent vortex beams were characterized for the first time. The efficacy of vortex detection by diffraction was also evaluated. Relations between different types of optical singularities were discovered and analyzed, and a surprising connection between vortex evolution and infinite mathematics was uncovered.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 24, 2016
Accession Number
AD1006480

Entities

People

  • Greg Gbur

Organizations

  • University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Atmospheres
  • Atmospheric Motion
  • Classification
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Diffraction
  • Electronic Mail
  • Intensity
  • Mathematics
  • Optical Modulators
  • Personal Information Managers
  • Remote Sensing
  • Space Communications
  • Turbulence

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Coastal Oceanography
  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space