Analysis and Experiments on Reflection and Refraction of Orbital Angular Momentum Waves

In this paper, a theoretical analysis of orbital angular momentum (OAM) wave propagation properties in terms of reflection and refraction is introduced by decomposing OAM waves into infinite plane waves in the spectral domain with different elevation and azimuth angles. Transformations of phases and amplitudes at the interface of two media for different incident angles and elevation angles are numerically analyzed. Similarly, based on the idea of decomposing OAM waves, reflection and refraction properties of OAM wave propagating through slabs are also analyzed and simulated. Finally, experiments on OAM waves with both mode numbers 1 and 2 are conducted to demonstrate the reflection and refraction properties of OAM waves.