Spatial Manipulation of a Supercontinuum Beam for the Study of Vortex Interference Effects

In this work, we generate optical vortices from the supercontinuum output of an ultrafast laser interacting with a micro-structured fiber. Using a segmented spatial light modulator, multiple vortices are designed and dynamically generated and shifted in order to observe their superposition in the image plane. It is shown that single-color patterns of exquisite complexity can be generated across a wide frequency range. Multi-color interference patterns are experimentally generated and compared to the results of computer simulations. Multiple vortices of varying colors are also generated and independently controlled, demonstrating that no spatial interference occurs. Experimental results are compared with theoretical and numerical simulations, showing excellent agreement.