title: Phase and interference properties of optical vortex beams.
abstract: Laguerre-Gauss vortex beams carrying different topological charges are generated from Hermite-Gauss laser beams emitted by a gas laser, and their phase properties are explored by studying their interference with a plane wave. Interference of two Laguerre-Gauss vortex beams carrying equal but opposite topological charge is also studied by using a modified Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Experimentally recorded intensity profiles are in good agreement with the theoretically expected profiles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Arkansas, Arkansas 72701, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vickers
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burch
authors.forename: Reeta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vyas
authors.forename: Surendra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh