Encoding and decoding communications based on perfect vector optical vortex arrays

Abstract

Abstract We proposed the perfect vector optical vortex arrays (PVOVAs) for encoding and decoding communications, including the 2 × 2, 1 × 4, 4 × 4, and 2 × 4 array forms, which were generated with the coaxial superposition of two vector optical vortex arrays with left- and right-handed circular polarization. The polarization order and state of each vector element could be modulated independently by adjusting the corresponding topological charges and additional phases, θn . By attaching code information to these vector elements with different states of polarization, the hexadecimal code elements, including 0 to F, were represented. Therefore, PVOVAs consisting of multiple vector elements can transmit encoding information and be decoded as original information in the receiving end. The school badge grayscale image, with a size of 64 × 64 pixels, was transmitted using the encoding and decoding communication via PVOVAs, and the received restored image had a reliable accuracy. This study proves PVOVAs have flexible spatial structure and controllable states of polarization, and it expands the application of vector optical fields in optical encoding and decoding communication.