Optimal annulus structures of optical vortices

An idea of an optimal annulus structure phase mask with helical wavefront is suggested; the resulting helical mode can be focused into a very clear optical vortex ring with the best contrast. Dependences of the optimal annulus width and the radius of the optical vortex ring on topological charge are found. The desired multi-optical vortices as the promising dynamic multi-optical tweezers are realized by extending our idea to the multi-annulus structure. Such multi-optical vortex rings allow carrying the same or different angular momentum flux in magnitude and direction. The idea offers flexibility and more dimensions for designing and producing the complicated optical vortices. For the Gaussian beam illumination, the optimal spot size, which ensures the high energy/power efficiency for generating the best contrast principal ring, is also found. (C) 2004 Optical Society of America.