Light beams with orbital angular momentum for free space optics

The light's orbital angular momentum (OAM) is a consequence of the spiral flow of the electromagnetic energy. In this paper, an analysis of light beams with OAM used for free space optics (FSO) is conducted. The basic description and conception of light's OAM are reviewed. Both encoding information into OAM states of single light beam and encoding information into spatial structure of the mixed optical vortex with OAM are discussed, and feasibility to improve the FSO's performance of security and obstruction of line of sight is examined.