The Localization of Angular Momentum in Optical Waves Propagating Through Turbulence

Abstract

This is the first in a series of papers demonstrating that photons with orbital angular momentum can be created in optical waves propagating through distributed turbulence. The scope of this first paper is much narrower. Here, we demonstrate that atmospheric turbulence imparts non-trivial angular momentum to beams and that this non-trivial angular momentum is highly localized. Furthermore, creation of this angular momentum is a normal part of propagation through atmospheric turbulence.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 02, 2012
Accession Number
ADA580205

Entities

People

  • Darryl J. Sanchez
  • Denis W. Oesch

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Angular Momentum
  • Atmospheric Motion
  • Electric Fields
  • Electromagnetic Wave Propagation
  • Frequency
  • Governments
  • Hilbert Space
  • Momentum
  • Orbital Angular Momentum
  • Probability
  • Refraction
  • Refractive Index
  • Total Angular Momentum
  • Turbulence
  • Wave Equations

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electromagnetic Wave Scattering and Antenna Radiation Engineering
  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers
  • Quantum spin resonance or Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy.

Technology Areas

  • Space