Abstract

Light carrying orbital angular momentum $\mathrm{L⃗}$, scattered by a rotating object at angular velocity $\mathrm{\Omega ⃗}$, experiences a rotational Doppler shift $\mathrm{\Omega ⃗}·\mathrm{L⃗}$. We show that this fundamental light–matter interaction can be detected exploiting self-mixing in a vortex laser under Doppler-shifted optical feedback, with quantum noise-limited light detection. We used a low-noise relaxation oscillation-free (class–A) vortex laser, based on III-V semiconductor vertical-external-cavity-surface-emitting laser technology to generate coherent Laguerre–Gauss beams carrying $L=\hslash l$ ($l=\pm 1,\dots \pm 4$). Linear and rotational Doppler effects were studied experimentally and theoretically. This will allow us to combine a velocity sensor with optical tweezers for micro-manipulation applications, with high performances: compact, powerful $\gg 10\mathrm{mW}$, high-quality beam, auto-aligned, linear response up to $>{10}^8\mathrm{rad}/\mathrm{s}$ or $>300\mathrm{km}/\mathrm{h}$, low back-scattered light detection limit $<{10}^{-16}/\mathrm{Hz}$.

© 2015 Optical Society of America

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