Analyzing and generating multimode optical fields using self-configuring networks

Understand

Working with finite numbers of modes to describe, generate and detect optical fields can be both mathematically economical and physically useful.

• Such a modal basis can map directly to various applications in communications, sensing and processing.
• But, we need a way to generate and analyze such fields, including measurement and control of both the relative amplitudes and phases of the modal components.
• Here, we show first how to measure all those relative amplitudes and phases automatically and simultaneously.