Quantum and classical separability of spin-orbit laser modes

In this paper we investigate the quantum noise properties of polarization vortices in connection with an intensity-based Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt (CHSH) inequality for their spin-orbit separability. We evaluate the inequality for different input quantum states and the corresponding intensity fluctuations. The roles played by coherence and photon number squeezing provide a suitable framework for characterizing pure state spin-orbit entanglement. Structural inseparability of the spin-orbit mode requires coherence, an issue concerning either classical or quantum descriptions. In both cases, it can be witnessed by violation of this intensity-based CHSH inequality. However, in the quantum domain, entanglement requires both coherence and reduced photon number fluctuations.