Splitting an optical vortex beam to study photonic orbit–orbit interactions

We numerically and experimentally evidence photonic orbit–orbit interactions in freely propagating asymmetrical beams carrying orbital angular momentum. A Fresnel biprism is used to carry out the wavefront division of an optical vortex beam, generating two complementary asymmetrical beams. The optical orbital Hall effect is presented in the form of angular deviations from the beam’s geometrical expectation. We also observe the rotation of the field transverse profile near the nominal propagation axis upon propagation, which direction depends on orbital momentum currents.