Optics of light beams with screw dislocations

Abstract The results of an experimental study in optics of waves with screw dislocations are reported. The structure of the screw dislocations of different charges produced by diffraction on the computer-synthesized grating or by nonlinear processes of second- harmonic generation is experimentally studied and discussed. The rotation of a pair of first-order screw dislocations with equal signs and annihilation of a pair of dislocations of opposite signs were detected in good agreement with theoretical predictions.