| CPC G02F 1/212 (2021.01) [G02F 1/2252 (2013.01); H01S 3/06712 (2013.01); H04B 10/613 (2013.01)] | 19 Claims |
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1. An optical modulator that generates a coherent laser beam in a superposition state of two orthogonal angular momentum states, the optical modulator comprising:
a first waveguide;
a second waveguide;
a first phase shifter provided in one or both of the first and second waveguides and configured to control a phase of the laser beam incident on the waveguide;
a first optical element configured to combine the laser beam propagating through the first waveguide and the laser beam propagating through the second waveguide and separate the combined laser beam into two laser beams;
a third waveguide on which one of the laser beams separated by the first optical element is incident;
a fourth waveguide on which the other of the laser beams separated by the first optical element is incident;
a second phase shifter provided in one or both of the third and fourth waveguides and configured to control a phase of the laser beam incident on the waveguide; and
a second optical element configured to combine the laser beam propagating through the third waveguide and the laser beam propagating through the fourth waveguide and emit the laser beam in the superposition state of the two orthogonal angular momentum states.
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