Arithmetic of focused vortex beams in three-dimensional optical lattice arrays

In this work, we present a method to generate a 3D lattice of vortex beams. We apply phase look-up tables (LUTs) designed to generate gratings having an arbitrary content of diffraction orders. This phase LUT can be applied to a variety of diffraction optical elements, such as linear phase gratings, blazed diffractive lenses, and spiral phase patterns. We concentrate on combinations of all of these to create 3D structures of vortex beams. In particular, we generate all of these elements in the first output quadrant and eliminate the zero-order diffraction that often unavoidably accompanies these patterns. We discuss different ways of producing these 3D vortex gratings, and how the various output beams are related to the arithmetic of the 3D distribution of topological charges. Experimental results are provided by means of a liquid crystal spatial light modulator. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America