Abstract

There is a growing interest in structured light, especially orbital angular momentum (OAM) beams, due to its unique amplitude and phase structure. Multiple orthogonal OAM beams can be utilized to enable high-capacity communication systems in various scenarios. This review will discuss the properties, challenges, advances, and perspectives of OAM-based optical communications, including the following (a) basic multiplexing and encoding links; (b) OAM-based communication in free space and fiber; (c) technical hurdles; (d) mitigation approaches; (e) encoded quantum communications; (f) advanced topics including different frequency ranges and novel beams; and (g) ecosystem and commercialization.

Optical communications using orbital angular momentum beams

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Adv. Opt. Photon. 7(1) 66-106 (2015)

Utilizing multiplexing of structured THz beams carrying orbital-angular-momentum for high-capacity communications

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Opt. Express 30(14) 25418-25432 (2022)

Simultaneously enhancing capacity and security in free-space optical chaotic communication utilizing orbital angular momentum

Yiqun Zhang, Mingfeng Xu, Mingbo Pu, Mengjie Zhou, Jiazheng Ding, Shuangcheng Chen, Kun Qiu, Ning Jiang, and Xiangang Luo
Photon. Res. 11(12) 2185-2193 (2023)

High-capacity and multi-dimensional orbital angular momentum multiplexing holography

Nian Zhang, Baoxing Xiong, Xiang Zhang, and Xiao Yuan
Opt. Express 31(20) 31884-31897 (2023)

Channel capacity of orbital-angular-momentum-based wireless communication systems with partially coherent elegant Laguerre–Gaussian beams in oceanic turbulence

Yongxu Li, Zhiwei Cui, Yiping Han, and Yuanfei Hui
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 36(4) 471-477 (2019)