From Conference Posters to Breakthrough Photonics: V4F at ICOAM & OPD 2026

V4F continues to build momentum within the photonics community, with recent contributions showcased at ICOAM2026 and OPD2026 highlighting the breadth and depth of ongoing research. These events provided a valuable platform not only to present cutting-edge results, but also to engage with the global community working at the forefront of OAM photonics and high-power laser systems.

Advancing OAM Photonics for High-Power Applications

At ICOAM2026, V4F researchers presented a series of posters addressing key challenges in the generation, propagation, and amplification of optical vortex beams. These contributions reflect core objectives of the project: enabling high-power, high-purity OAM beams for next-generation applications.

Among the highlights:

• High-power generation of optical vortices via coherent beam combining: Demonstrating scalable approaches to producing high-intensity structured light. - Hossein Fathi, R. F. Barros, Regina Gumenyuk

• Propagation of short pulses carrying OAM in spun fibres: Addressing a critical challenge in maintaining beam integrity and control during transmission. - H. Asgharzadeh B., Z. Eslami, R. Gumenyuk, Marco Ornigotti

• Watt-level amplification of OAM modes in spun ring-core tapered fibres: A key step towards preserving modal purity while scaling power, essential for practical deployment. - I. Zalesskaia, H. Asgharzadeh B., Z. Eslami, H. Fathi, E. Gribanov, A. Grishchenko, F. Lindner, K. Wondraczek, E. Savelyev, M. Ornigotti, V. Filippov, R. Gumenyuk

Spotlight on Research Excellence

At OPD2026, V4F researcher Hassan Asgharzadehbastehdimi presented work on:

“Propagation of short pulses carrying orbital angular momentum in spun fibres”

This research tackles a fundamental issue in OAM photonics, showing how to reliably transmit structured light without losing its defining properties. Such work is crucial for enabling real-world systems where beam stability and precision are non-negotiable.

The positive reception and active discussions around this work reflect growing interest in ultra-fast, structured light systems and their potential across multiple domains.

Looking Ahead

With further results on amplification, fibre-based systems, and plasma interaction on the horizon, V4F is steadily progressing from fundamental photonics breakthroughs to transformative energy applications. The enthusiasm and engagement seen at ICOAM2026 and OPD2026 are clear indicators that the project is not only advancing science, but helping shape the future direction of structured light research.

We hope to keep momentum at EOSAM2026 in Tampere, where our coordinator Regina Gumenyuk will be co-chairing the focus session "Laser drivers for inertial fusion energy", a topic close to V4F's central mission!