The angular momentum of light originates from two sources: one is the spin
angular momentum (SAM) of individual photons, which is related to the polarization
of light and the other is the orbital angular momentum (OAM) associated with helical
wavefront of the light if it is helically phased (complex phase front). A beam of light
that is composed of photons possessing both OAM and SAM states can be used in
different areas of study such as rotating microscopic particles, interacting with nonlinear
materials, investigating atom-light interactions, communication and medical
imaging technologies, quantum information, quantum entanglement and etc. In this
dissertation we study coherent beams that convey photons in superposition states
of polarization and complex phase front. Our study includes two fields: (I) classical
wave-like behavior with visible light in the field of singular optics. (II) quantum
particle-like behavior of photons of light in the field of quantum-entangled optics.
The approach is to investigate the state of such photons both mathematically and
experimentally in classical-singular and quantum-entangled fields. We discuss seven projects based on this research. In one project we present
a new method to encode OAM modes into perpendicular polarization components
and making superpositions of polarization and spatial modes mapped by Poincare
sphere. In another project using spatial light modulators (SLM) we realized highorder
disclination patterns in the polarization map of the cross section of the beam.
We also realize new forms of polarization disclination patterns (line patterns where
rotational invariance is violated) known as monstars that were not previously seen.
We proposed a new definition for characterizing these patterns since they can have
zero or negative singularity index. In another project, instead of SLM we used q-plates
to generate new forms of monstars. We proposed a robust and easy method for
determining the topological charge of a complex phase front beam by inspecting the
interference pattern the beam reflected from a wedged optical flat. In another project
we encoded OAM modes onto orthogonal polarization components of a photon from
an entangled pair and investigated the quantum entanglement. We also prepared
a polarization entangled state and calculated some measures of entanglement. We
summarize the projects and discuss the future prospects. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fau.edu/oai:fau.digital.flvc.org:fau_40822 |
| Contributors | Khajavi, Behzad (author), Miller, Warner A. (Thesis advisor), Galvez, Enrique J. (Thesis advisor), Florida Atlantic University (Degree grantor), Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Physics |
| Publisher | Florida Atlantic University |
| Source Sets | Florida Atlantic University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation, Text |
| Format | 132 p., application/pdf |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder., http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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