Physics and Applications of Spatio-temporal Optical Vortices (STOVs)
Abstract
We propose an experimental and theoretical-simulation program to investigate the physics underlying the dynamics and applications of spatio-temporal optical vortices (STOVs). STOVs were first discovered by our group as an emergent phenomenon from nonlinear self-focusing and collapse arrest of ultrashort optical pulses in material media. They appear to be universal to all self-focusing processes spanning moderate intensities in condensed materials up to relativistic intensities in plasmas. Subsequently, we developed a 4f pulse shaper-based scheme for generating STOVs linearly, and demonstrated free space propagation and orbital angular momentum (OAM) conservation in second harmonic generation, with the latter result establishing that STOV-based OAM is encoded on individual photons. These results open a large range of opportunities for application in robust nonlinear propagation, materials probing, and information transport. In the research proposed here, we will focus on the linear and nonlinear propagation of STOV-encoded pulses in gases and solid dispersive materials, and the robustness of OAM conservation and topological charge conservation. In addition, we will continue experimental verification our modal theory of STOVs and its prediction of a quasiparticle (a STOV polariton ) in dispersive media.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 07, 2023
- Source ID
- FA95502110405
Entities
People
- Howard Milchberg
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Maryland