System and method using OAM spectroscopy leveraging fractional orbital angular momentum as signature to detect materials

1. An apparatus that detects a material within a sample, comprising:

signal generation circuitry that generates a first light beam having at least one orbital angular momentum applied thereto and applies the first light beam to the sample, the orbital angular momentum imparting a phase factor of exp(imφ), where m is at least one of an integer value or fractional value and φ is the azimuth angle, to the first light beam;

a detector for receiving the first light beam after the first light beam passes through the sample and detecting the material responsive to a detection of a predetermined phase factor within the first light beam received from the sample.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined phase factor further comprises the predetermined phase factor generated by the first light beam having fractional orbital angular momentum states applied thereto.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the signal generation circuitry further comprises:

an emitting source that emits the first light beam comprising a plurality of plane waves;

orbital angular momentum generation circuitry that receives the first light beam and applies the at least one orbital angular momentum to the plurality of plane waves of the first light beam.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the orbital angular momentum generation circuitry comprises a spiral phase plate having fraction step height to impart the at least one angular momentum to the first light beam.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the orbital angular momentum generation circuitry uses spatial holograms to impart orbital angular momentum to the first light beam.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the orbital angular momentum generation circuitry uses Laguerre-Gaussian optical pump pulses to impart orbital angular momentum to the first light beam.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the orbital angular generation circuitry uses a spatial light modulator generating Laguerre-Gaussian modes to impart the at least one orbital angular momentum to the first light beam.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the spatial light modulator limits Gouy phases in the first light beam to improve beam propagation stability.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the spatial light modulator is further programmed with a hologram that sets a phase structure and intensity structure for superimposing the Laguerre-Gaussian modes.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the hologram further includes a blazed grating to separate angularly a first fraction order of the at least one orbital angular momentum.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the applied orbital angular momentum includes a mh per photon along a beam axis of the first light beam.

12. A method for determining a material within a sample, comprising:

generating a first light beam having at least one orbital angular momentum applied thereto, the orbital angular momentum imparting a phase factor of exp(imφ), where m is at least one of an integer value or fractional value and φ is the azimuth angle, to the first light beam;

applying the first light beam to the sample;

receiving the first light beam after the first light beam passes through the sample;

detecting a predetermined phase factor within the received first light beam; and

determining the material within the sample based on the detected predetermined phase factor within the first light beam received from the sample.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the predetermined phase factor further comprises the predetermined phase factor generated by the first light beam having fractional orbital angular momentum states applied thereto.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of generating further comprises:

emitting the first light beam comprising a plurality of plane waves;

receiving the first light beam; and

applying the at least one orbital angular momentum to the plane waves of the first light beam.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein step of applying further comprises applying the at least one angular momentum to the first light beam using a spiral phase plate having a fraction step height.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein step of applying further comprises applying the at least one angular momentum to the first light beam using spatial holograms.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein step of applying further comprises applying the at least one angular momentum to the first light beam using Laguerre-Gaussian optical pump.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein step of applying further comprises applying the at least one angular momentum to the first light beam using a spatial light modulator generating Laguerre-Gaussian modes.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the step of applying further comprises limiting Gouy phases in the first light beam to improve beam propagation stability with the spatial light modulator.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the step of applying further comprises superimposing the Laguerre-Gaussian modes using a hologram programmed within the spatial light modulator that sets a phase structure and intensity.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the step of superimposing further comprise programming the hologram to include a blazed grating to separate angularly a first fraction order of the at least one orbital angular momentum.

22. The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of generating further comprises applying the at least one orbital angular momentum as a mℏ per photon along a beam axis of the first light beam.