Nonlinear optical vortex coronagraph

Einstom Engay, Peter John Rodrigo

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    Abstract

    A nonlinear optical vortex coronagraph (n-OVC) based on sum-frequency generation (SFG) in a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystal is presented. We demonstrate an n-OVC by mixing the image of an on-axis point source (λ= 1.6 µm) inside the PPLN crystal with a pump beam (λ= 1064 nm) imprinted with a helical phase profile from a vector vortex mask (topological charge = 2). Due to quasi-phase matching and orbital angular momentum conservation, a coronagraphic image is produced at the SFG wavelength (λup∼ 630 nm). We validate that the n-OVC is tunable to signal wavelength but only requires a vortex mask operating at the pump wavelength. The acceptance bandwidth of the SFG process provides the n-OVC a degree of achromaticity even with a monochromatic vortex mask. The n-OVC exhibits an inner working angle of ∼λs/D and an experimental contrast of 10−4 at 3λs/D.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalOptics Letters
    Volume45
    Issue number6
    Pages (from-to)1579-1582
    ISSN0146-9592
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2020

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