Topological Charge Measurement of a Partially Coherent Vortex Beam Using Dual Cylindrical Lenses with an Arbitrary Angle

Abstract

For a partially coherent Laguerre–Gaussian (PCLG) vortex beam, information regarding the topological charge (TC) is concealed in the cross-spectral density (CSD) function phase. Herein, a flexible method for the simultaneous determination of the sign and magnitude of the TC for a PCLG vortex beam is proposed based on the measured CSD amplitude and phase after the beam propagates through a dual cylindrical lens with adjustable angles. Both the stripes in the CSD amplitude and phase exhibit quantitative relationships with the value of TC, that is, N=2l+1. Meanwhile, the angle adjustability of cylindrical lenses allows flexible measurements, thus rendering the scheme effective for both high and extreme coherences.