Free-Space Propagation of Spatiotemporal Optical Vortices

Spatiotemporal optical vortices (STOVs) are a new type of optical orbital angular momentum (OAM) with optical phase circulation in space–time. In prior work [Phys. Rev. X. 6, 031037 (2016)], we demonstrated that a STOV is a universal structure emerging from the arrest of self-focusing collapse leading to nonlinear self-guiding in material media. Here, we demonstrate linear generation and propagation in free space of STOV-carrying pulses. Our measurements and simulations demonstrate STOV mediation of space–time energy flow within the pulse and conservation of OAM in space–time.  Single-shot amplitude and phase images of STOVs are taken using a new diagnostic, transient grating single-shot supercontinuum spectral interferometry.