Singular beams based on tangential phase warp.

We introduce a new kind of singular beam with a controllable topological charge. These beams are created by modulating the spatial phase using a tangent function on the angular coordinate, and a linear function on the radial coordinate. While the angular function controls the topological charge of the beam, the radial function generates a warped intensity profile. We simulate several cases to analyze their evolution with propagation and determine their topological charge. The results are supported with an experiment using a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor.

On the cancellation of OAM beams propagating through convective turbulence.

By means of an experimental setup, we study the time evolution of orbital angular momentum (OAM) crosstalk after a 5 m propagation path with a turbulence perturbation generated by a flat heater. This convective turbulence could simulate the beam passing over hot concrete or building roofs. We study the consequences of using a wide range of transmission OAM states. We also explore the effect of misalignment, and we propose two new different techniques for analyzing the vortex cancellation. Even though results are inconsistent with theoretical predictions, especially for low turbulence regimes, we state that signal-to-noise ratio is the key factor to understanding this discrepancy. Finally, a crosstalk correction method is proposed via image post-processing that would open the possibility of an adaptive optics approach that is different from conventional ones.

Synthesis of anisotropic optical turbulence at the laboratory.

At the foundation of the problem of light propagation through optical turbulence is the classical Obukhov-Kolmogorov theory. It rests in the requirement that the refractive index fluctuations should be homogeneous and isotropic. These, with other necessary assumptions, lead to the very well-known -11/3-power exponent spectrum on the inertial range; although departures have been found, they are usually associated with partially developed turbulence or its intrinsic intermittency. Recently, in optics, the interest in anisotropic fluctuations of the refractive index has gained attention. These studies are mostly theoretical, and reduce anisotropic effects to a dilatation along a coordinate direction in the three-dimensional wavenumber space. Few experimental works exists, but all of them employ simulated turbulence. In this Letter, we describe an experiment to produce anisotropic turbulence under controlled conditions; moreover, we observe anisotropy by studying the spectral power exponent of a temporal series of laser beam wandering.

On a quasi-wavelet model of refractive index fluctuations due to atmospheric turbulence.

When studying light propagation through the atmosphere, it is usual to rely on widely used spectra such as the modified von Kármán or Andrews-Hill. These are relatively tractable models for the fluctuations of the refractive index, and are primarily used because of their mathematical convenience. They correctly describe the fluctuations behaviour at the inertial range yet lack any physical basis outside this range. In recent years, deviations from the Obukhov-Kolmogorov theory (e. g. interminttency, partially developed turbulence, etc.) have been built upon these models through the introduction of arbitrary spectral power laws. Here we introduce a quasi-wavelet model for the refractive index fluctuations which is based on a phenomenological representation of the Richardson cascade. Under this model, the atmospheric refractive index has a correct spectral representation for the inertial range, behaves as expected outside it, and even accounts for non-Kolmogorov behaviour; moreover, it has non-Gaussian statistics. Finally, we are able to produce second order moments under the Rytov approximation for the complex phase; we estimate the angle-of-arrival as an example of application.

Estimation of Cn² based on scintillation of fixed targets imaged through atmospheric turbulence.

We define a pixel-based scintillation index for dynamic incoherent imaging of fixed high-contrast targets through atmospheric turbulence. We propose a simple setup to study this parameter varying the Cn(2) constant in controlled laboratory conditions (weak fluctuation regime). We find the semi-empirical relationship between the pixel-based scintillation index and the index of refraction structure constant, which we then employ to estimate Cn(2) successfully in an independent case in which this value was not known beforehand.

Orbital-angular-momentum crosstalk and temporal fading in a terrestrial laser link using single-mode fiber coupling.

Using a mobile experimental testbed, we perform a series of measurements on the detection of laser beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) to evaluate turbulent channel distortions and crosstalk among receive states in an 84-m roofed optical link. We find that a receiver assembly using single-mode fiber coupling serves as a good signal selector in terms of crosstalk rejection. From the recorded temporal channel waveforms, we estimate average crosstalk profiles and propose an appropriate probability density function for the fluctuations of the detected OAM signal. Further measurements of OAM crosstalk are described for a horizontal 400-m link established over our campus.

Turbulence-induced persistence in laser beam wandering.

We have experimentally confirmed the presence of long-memory correlations in the wandering of a thin Gaussian laser beam over a screen after propagating through a turbulent medium. A laboratory-controlled experiment was conducted in which coordinate fluctuations of the laser beam were recorded at a sufficiently high sampling rate for a wide range of turbulent conditions. Horizontal and vertical displacements of the laser beam centroid were subsequently analyzed by implementing detrended fluctuation analysis. This is a very well-known and widely used methodology to unveil memory effects from time series. Results obtained from this experimental analysis allow us to confirm that both coordinates behave as highly persistent signals for strong turbulent intensities. This finding is relevant for a better comprehension and modeling of the turbulence effects in free-space optical communication systems and other applications related to propagation of optical signals in the atmosphere.

Experimental confirmation of long-memory correlations in star-wander data.

In this Letter we have analyzed the temporal correlations of the angle-of-arrival fluctuations of stellar images. Experimentally measured data were carefully examined by implementing multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis. This algorithm is able to discriminate the presence of fractal and multifractal structures in recorded time sequences. We have confirmed that turbulence-degraded stellar wavefronts are compatible with a long-memory correlated monofractal process. This experimental result is quite significant for the accurate comprehension and modeling of the atmospheric turbulence effects on the stellar images. It can also be of great utility within the adaptive optics field.

Estimating the optimal sampling rate using wavelet transform: an application to optical turbulence.

Sampling rate and frequency content determination for optical quantities related to light propagation through turbulence are paramount experimental topics. Some papers about estimating properties of the optical turbulence seem to use ad hoc assumptions to set the sampling frequency used; this chosen sampling rate is assumed good enough to perform a proper measurement. On the other hand, other authors estimate the optimal sampling rate via fast Fourier transform of data series associated to the experiment. When possible, with the help of analytical models, cut-off frequencies, or frequency content, can be determined; yet, these approaches require prior knowledge of the optical turbulence. The aim of this paper is to propose an alternative, practical, experimental method to estimate a proper sampling rate. By means of the discrete wavelet transform, this approach can prevent any loss of information and, at the same time, avoid oversampling. Moreover, it is independent of the statistical model imposed on the turbulence.

Beam wandering statistics of twin thin laser beam propagation under generalized atmospheric conditions.

Under the Geometrics Optics approximation is possible to estimate the covariance between the displacements of two thin beams after they have propagated through a turbulent medium. Previous works have concentrated in long propagation distances to provide models for the wandering statistics. These models are useful when the separation between beams is smaller than the propagation path-regardless of the characteristics scales of the turbulence. In this work we give a complete model for these covariances, behavior introducing absolute limits to the validity of former approximations. Moreover, these generalizations are established for non-Kolmogorov atmospheric models.

Natural occurrence of fumonisins in corn puff in Argentina.

Maize presents a substantial contamination by fumonisins (FB) throughout the world. In particular, Argentina presents a high frequency of positive samples and levels of up to 10,000 µg/kg of total FB, depending on the harvest campaign studied. Corn puff, an extruded product of high consumption among children and adolescent populations, was analyzed with the aim of determining the presence and levels of fumonisins B1, B2 and B3. In the present study, 20 samples of different brands were collected from commercial stores. Two solvent systems, two types of agitation, and the number of extractions were tested in order to find the most suitable method to establish the level of fumonisins in corn puff. Extracts were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. A C18 column and precolumn derivatization with orthophtalaldialdehyde were utilized. The average of fumonisins found in 20 samples was 257.5 µg/kg (n = 19), 70.4 µg/kg (n = 14) and 73.3 µg/kg (n = 6) for FB1, FB2 and FB3, on positive samples, respectively. These are the first analyses in Argentina of this type of product, highlighting the need to continue the studies in the processing industries because, despite the extrusion process that the raw material suffers, a sample was found with a contamination of 1,649 µg/kg total fumonisins.