Vortex knots in light
Optics
2009-11-10 v2
Abstract
Optical vortices generically arise when optical beams are combined. Recently, we reported how several laser beams containing optical vortices could be combined to form optical vortex loops, links and knots embedded in a light beam (Leach et al 2004). Here, we describe in detail the experiments in which vortex loops form these structures. The experimental construction follows a theoretical model originally proposed by Berry and Dennis, and the beams are synthesised using a programmable spatial light modulator and imaged using a CCD camera.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.physics/0411121,
title = {Vortex knots in light},
author = {J. Leach and M. R. Dennis and J. Courtial and M. J. Padgett},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:physics/0411121},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
11 pages, 6 figures