Helical Beams

Helical beams are a type of light or electromagnetic wave where the wavefronts twist in a spiral, forming a corkscrew pattern. Unlike regular beams that spread uniformly, helical beams carry orbital angular momentum, meaning they have a sort of "twist" that can be used to manipulate particles or transmit information. This unique structure causes the beam to have a central dark core and a spiral phase fronts, making them useful in advanced microscopy, optical trapping, and communications. Essentially, they are light beams with a spiral shape, enabling new ways to interact with matter and convey data.