Universal entanglement decay of photonic orbital angular momentum qubit states in atmospheric turbulence: an analytical treatment

Abstract

We study the entanglement evolution of photonic orbital angular momentum qubit states with opposite azimuthal indices $l_0$, in a weakly turbulent atmosphere. Using asymptotic methods, we deduce analytical expressions for the amplitude of turbulence-induced crosstalk between the modes $l_0$ and $-l_0$. Furthermore, we analytically establish distinct, universal entanglement decay laws for Kolmogorov's turbulence model and for two approximations thereof.

11 pages, 3 figures