Observation of an optical vortex beam from a helical undulator in the XUV region

The observation of an optical vortex beam at 60nm wavelength, produced as the second-harmonic radiation from a helical undulator, is reported. The helical wavefront of the optical vortex beam was verified by measuring the interference pattern between the vortex beam from a helical undulator and a normal beam from another undulator. Although the interference patterns were slightly blurred owing to the relatively large electron beam emittance, it was possible to observe the interference features thanks to the helical wavefront of the vortex beam. The experimental results were well reproduced by simulation.An optical vortex beam carrying an orbital angular momentum of (l = ±1) per photon was produced as the second-harmonic radiation from a helical undulator. The helical wavefront of the optical vortex beam was verified though an interference experiment.