2 May 2009 | B. Thidé, H. Then, J. Sjöholm, K. Palmer, J. Bergman, T. D. Carozzi, Ya. N. Istomin, N. H. Ibragimov, R. Khamitova
This paper presents a numerical study on the utilization of photon orbital angular momentum (OAM) in the low-frequency radio domain. It shows that vector antenna arrays can generate radio beams with spin and orbital angular momentum characteristics similar to those of helical Laguerre-Gauss laser beams in optics. For low frequencies (≲1 GHz), digital techniques can be used to coherently measure and manipulate the instantaneous, local field vectors, enabling new experiments beyond optics. This opens up possibilities for information-rich radio astronomy and novel wireless communication concepts.
Classical electrodynamics exhibits symmetries that correspond to conserved quantities, including angular momentum. The total angular momentum of a system is conserved, with spin angular momentum (SAM) and orbital angular momentum (OAM) being key components. In radio physics, OAM has not been widely used, but recent studies suggest its potential for applications such as detecting ultrahigh energy neutrinos, studying radio wave interactions with the atmosphere and ionosphere, and radar probing of the Sun.
The paper proposes using antenna arrays to generate and detect both SAM and OAM in radio beams. It shows that by using vector antennas, such as tripoles, it is possible to measure and manipulate the 3D radio field vectors. This allows for the processing of electromagnetic angular momentum in software, which is not feasible with current infrared and optical detectors.
The study demonstrates that radio beams with OAM can have radiation patterns similar to those of paraxial optics. Numerical simulations show that the OAM can be resolved by integrating the complex field vector weighted with exp(-ilφ) along a circle around the beam axis. The maximum OAM number that can be resolved is limited by the number of antennas along the integration path.
The Poynting vector of a radio beam with OAM has a helical phase structure and spirals around the main beam axis. This allows for the observation of multiple images of a single point source, each corresponding to a pure OAM state. The paper also discusses the potential for using OAM in radio astronomy and communication, as well as its possible connection to the existence of magnetic monopoles. The study concludes that radio OAM techniques hold promise for developing novel information-rich radar and wireless communication concepts.This paper presents a numerical study on the utilization of photon orbital angular momentum (OAM) in the low-frequency radio domain. It shows that vector antenna arrays can generate radio beams with spin and orbital angular momentum characteristics similar to those of helical Laguerre-Gauss laser beams in optics. For low frequencies (≲1 GHz), digital techniques can be used to coherently measure and manipulate the instantaneous, local field vectors, enabling new experiments beyond optics. This opens up possibilities for information-rich radio astronomy and novel wireless communication concepts.
Classical electrodynamics exhibits symmetries that correspond to conserved quantities, including angular momentum. The total angular momentum of a system is conserved, with spin angular momentum (SAM) and orbital angular momentum (OAM) being key components. In radio physics, OAM has not been widely used, but recent studies suggest its potential for applications such as detecting ultrahigh energy neutrinos, studying radio wave interactions with the atmosphere and ionosphere, and radar probing of the Sun.
The paper proposes using antenna arrays to generate and detect both SAM and OAM in radio beams. It shows that by using vector antennas, such as tripoles, it is possible to measure and manipulate the 3D radio field vectors. This allows for the processing of electromagnetic angular momentum in software, which is not feasible with current infrared and optical detectors.
The study demonstrates that radio beams with OAM can have radiation patterns similar to those of paraxial optics. Numerical simulations show that the OAM can be resolved by integrating the complex field vector weighted with exp(-ilφ) along a circle around the beam axis. The maximum OAM number that can be resolved is limited by the number of antennas along the integration path.
The Poynting vector of a radio beam with OAM has a helical phase structure and spirals around the main beam axis. This allows for the observation of multiple images of a single point source, each corresponding to a pure OAM state. The paper also discusses the potential for using OAM in radio astronomy and communication, as well as its possible connection to the existence of magnetic monopoles. The study concludes that radio OAM techniques hold promise for developing novel information-rich radar and wireless communication concepts.