Quantum orbital angular momentum in fibers: A review

Abstract

The field of quantum communication is thriving as a complement to conventional telecommunication with its distinctive feature of absolute security. As the core technology for delivering quantum information, substantial advances in quantum communication have already been demonstrated on various platforms, including photonic systems. Among all of them, the orbital angular momentum (OAM) of photons with its infinite Hilbert space has attracted much attention and has been widely employed in both classical and quantum regimes. In particular, many types of fiber have been designed and fabricated to allow transmitting OAM of photons. Here, we review recent progress in transmitting OAM quantum states through different types of fiber, including few-mode fibers, multi-mode fibers, ring-core fibers, and single-mode fibers. We also discuss the challenges and prospects of quantum OAM in fibers.