Generation and propagation dynamics of obstructed and unobstructed rotating orbital angular momentum-carrying Helicon beams

We report on the dynamics of propagation of rotating OAM-carrying beams past partial and total obstructions. We demonstrate a simple experimental technique for generating rotating Helicon beams and for investigating the propagation of the obstructed field. In this technique we create digital holograms, imprinted on a spatial light modulator, that simultaneously vary the amplitude and phase of the light to create a digital equivalent of multiple ring slit apertures. Our method allows for the controlled generation of Helicon beams of any order, and any radial wavevector, thus controlling the rotation rate of the beams. We further study the reconstruction properties for total on-axis obstructions as compared to partial off-axis obstructions and show that the results obtained are in good agreement with theoretical predictions.