Decomposing spatial mode superpositions with a triangular optical cavity

Abstract

We demonstrate that a triangular cavity can operate as an efficient discriminator for Hermite-Gaussian optical modes. The process is applied to distinct fields produced by a Spatial Light Modulator, decomposing the generated paraxial field onto a basis of modes defined by the resonant modes of the optical cavity. We also present a proposal for the realization of a mode sorter based on a sequence of these cavities, without the need for optical isolation. We discuus its possible applications in sensitive measurements and distribution of information in optical systems. The high purity of the process should enable the use at the level of quantum information sharing.