Abstract

We report on a self-induced strategy to achieve high-contrast optical imaging, without the need for any man-made optical masks, which relies on the self-induced spin-to-orbital angular momentum conversion phenomenon. This is experimentally demonstrated by realizing a laboratory demonstration of self-eclipsing of a light source following the generation of a self-adapted vectorial optical vortex transmission mask. The proposed concept, namely the realization of an alignment-free optical vortex coronagraph, may inspire the development of future generations of smart astronomical imaging instruments.

© 2017 Optical Society of America

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