Universal photonic processor for spatial mode decomposition

Varun Sharma, Dorian Brandmüller, Johannes Bütow, Jörg S. Eismann and Peter Banzer ()
Additional contact information
Varun Sharma: University of Graz, NAWI Graz
Dorian Brandmüller: University of Graz, NAWI Graz
Johannes Bütow: University of Graz, NAWI Graz
Jörg S. Eismann: University of Graz, NAWI Graz
Peter Banzer: University of Graz, NAWI Graz

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Efficient and precise information storage and processing using light’s various degrees of freedom - intensity, phase, and polarization - have vast applications in modern photonics. The corresponding utilization necessitates the accurate measurement and decomposition of arbitrary spatial modes into their orthogonal components. In this paper, we introduce a new modal decomposition technique based on a 16-pixel reconfigurable photonic integrated circuit programmed as a spatial mode decomposer. This device uniquely identifies and quantifies the relative contributions of constituent modes in a Laguerre-Gaussian basis. The presented device not only provides the relative weights of these modes but also their relative phases, offering a novel approach based on an integrated platform for optical information processing. We further highlight a novel input interface that enables the decomposition of input beam polarization into circular polarization basis. The potential applications of this technology are vast, ranging from advanced optical communications to microscopy and beyond, marking a significant stride in the field of integrated photonics.

Date: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63359-5 Abstract (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-63359-5

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63359-5

Access Statistics for this article

Nature Communications is currently edited by Nathalie Le Bot, Enda Bergin and Fiona Gillespie

More articles in Nature Communications from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().