Talbot effect caused by periodic arrangement of fork-shaped dislocations

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optcom.2025.132681

In the present work, we report the first experimental observation of Talbot effect caused by a linear periodic arrangement of fork-shaped dislocations. The presence of dislocations imposes phase discontinuities to the optical field given rise to forming an array of optical vortices co-propagating behind the structure. Two types of masks have been considered, with the same or alternating signs of topological charges. Unlike the mask with the same signs of topological charges, a multi-fork grating with alternating signs of dislocations exhibits the Talbot effect. The observed Talbot effect proved by correlation analysis is conditioned by the modality of an array of fork-shaped dislocations under consideration. Theoretical and numerical results are found to be in good correspondence with experimental data. By unveiling the intricate dependencies of optical vortex trajectories on configuration of dislocation arrangement and topological charge distribution therein, this work has advanced the state of the understanding of structured singular optics, paving the way for innovative applications in optical manipulation, communications, and complex light field engineering.