Definition of vortex phase plate

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Photonics Dictionary

vortex phase plate: A vortex phase plate is an optical device designed to impart a phase singularity, commonly referred to as a vortex or phase vortex, onto a light beam. This singularity results in a phase profile where the phase of the light rotates around a central point or axis, similar to the flow of water in a whirlpool or vortex.

The vortex phase plate operates by introducing a spatially varying phase shift across the beam profile. This phase shift can be achieved using various techniques, such as the manipulation of the wavefront of the light beam passing through the plate. The phase singularity at the center of the vortex can have different topological charges, representing the number of phase windings around the singularity point.

Vortex phase plates are widely used in optics and photonics for various applications, including:

Optical tweezers: By generating optical vortex beams with specific topological charges, vortex phase plates can create three-dimensional trapping potentials for manipulating micro-particles and cells in optical tweezers setups.

Quantum information: Vortex beams are used in quantum optics for encoding and transmitting information. Vortex phase plates help create and manipulate quantum states of light, such as orbital angular momentum states, which are useful for quantum communication and quantum computing applications.

Superresolution microscopy: In techniques such as stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy and structured illumination microscopy (SIM), vortex phase plates are employed to sculpt the phase of the excitation beam, enabling sub-diffraction-limited imaging and improving resolution.

Optical communications: Vortex beams can carry orbital angular momentum (OAM), allowing for increased data-carrying capacity in optical communication systems. Vortex phase plates are used to generate and manipulate these OAM-carrying beams for applications in free-space communication and optical fiber transmission.