Simultaneous generation of multiple orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes using a single phase-only element

Based on the conventional iterative algorithm, we present a pattern search assisted iterative (PSI) algorithm to simultaneously generate multiple orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes using a single phase-only element. The PSI algorithm shows a favorable operation performance for generating 100 randomly spaced OAM modes and 50 evenly spaced OAM modes with high diffraction efficiency (>93%), low relative root-mean-square error (R-RMSE) and low standard deviation. Moreover, we can also manipulate the relative power distribution of the generated OAM modes simply by setting the initial weight coefficients in the PSI algorithm. (C)2015 Optical Society of America