Harnessing the vector modes of multimode optical fibers

光纤使互联网革命成为可能，并在最近开启了远程传感器、照明源、生物医学探头和光学镊子等新领域，从而对文明产生了深远的影响。光在光纤中的传播受空间模式的影响。经典标量模虽然代表了近似描述，但由于其对于大多数依赖于单模光纤的应用具有足够的精确度，所以今天仍然主要使用。在这种单调的景观下，隐藏着由多模光纤支持的丰富多样的矢量模式。矢量模代表了光纤的真实模式，但由于其选择性激发、传播和检测方面的技术限制，到目前为止在很大程度上被忽视了。最近在所有方面的进展都带来了利用矢量模式向变革性科学和光子技术发展的前景。这就是这项提议所宣称的长期目标。更具体地说，该提案确定了要遵循的三个主要目标： -研究支配多模光纤中矢量模式行为和特性的基础基础科学 开发用于矢量模式的激励、表征、调制和检测的先进方法 开发新颖的多模光纤设计、材料组合物和光子组件，用于精确引导和整形矢量模式 为了推动矢量模科学的发展，我们需要找到新的方法来利用现有的许多光-物质相互作用来选择性地激发、传播和塑造矢量模。该计划确定了四个有希望的研究角度，并为每一个确定了明确的调查路径： (A)特种多模光纤 (B)实现光电互动 (C)磁光和磁物理相互作用 (D)声光交互 这项建议的第一个目标是在一个五年计划结束时建立一个国际公认的最先进的研究实验室，处于矢量模式及其应用科学的前沿。这一提议背后的关键概念是，矢量模式代表了基本的构建块，利用这些构建块可以设计出所有可能的塑造光纤中光传播的方法。通过开展矢量模式的研究，我们在最基本的层面上提高了对光纤中光-物质相互作用的理解和控制。这一重要的实现开启了突破性科学发现的前景，并为在多种模式和应用中使用特殊光纤开辟了前所未有的前景。这将我们引向该提案的第二个长期目标，即将产生的科学和方法转移到工业和医学的实际用途，并在邻近的科学领域发挥杠杆作用。

Optical fibers have had a profound impact on civilization by making the Internet revolution possible and, more recently, by opening new forays as remote sensors, illumination sources, biomedical probes and optical tweezers, among others. Light propagation in optical fibers is mediated by spatial modes. The classical scalar modes, although representing approximate descriptions, are still primarily used today because of its adequate accuracy for most applications that depend on singlemode fibers. Beneath this monotonous landscape lies a teeming diversity of vector modes supported by multimode fibers. Vector modes represent the true modes of an optical fiber, but have been largely disregarded so far due to technological limitations in their selective excitation, propagation and detection. Recent advances on all fronts have brought the prospect of harnessing the vector modes towards transformative science and photonic technologies. This is the stated long-term aim of this proposal. More specifically, the proposal identifies three main objectives to follow:      -  Investigate the underlying fundamental science that governs the behavior and properties of vector modes in multimode fibers      -  Develop advanced methods for the excitation, characterization, modulation and detection of vector modes      -  Develop novel multimode fiber designs, material compositions and photonic components engineered for the precise steering and shaping of vector modes In order to push forward the science of vector modes we need to find new ways to selectively excite, propagate and shape the vector modes by taking advantage of the many light-matter interactions available. The program identifies four promising angles of research to pursue along with clear paths of investigation for each:      A)  Specialty multimode fibers      B)  Optoelectronic interactions      C)  Magneto-optical and magneto-physical interactions      D)  Acousto-optic interactions The first goal of this proposal is the creation, at the end of a five-year plan, of a state-of-the-art internationally recognized research laboratory at the forefront of the science of vector modes and their applications. The key notion behind this proposal is that vector modes represent the basic building blocks with which all the possible ways of shaping light propagation in optical fibers can be devised. By conducting research in vector modes we thus improve our understanding and control of light-matter interactions in optical fibers on the most fundamental level. This important realization opens the prospect of groundbreaking scientific discoveries and for using special optical fibers in a multiplicity of modalities and applications not imagined before. This leads us to the second long-term goal of the proposal which is the transfer of the generated science and methods towards practical uses in industry and medicine, and their leverage in neighboring spheres of science.