Angular sensing of structured light using a structured sensor

Abstract

We highlight the potential of a light-dependent resistor (LDR) as an effective detector for structured light, particularly for sensing the rotation of petal beams. The serpentine pattern embedded in the LDR breaks the rotational symmetry of the beam, enabling angular shifts to be converted into measurable voltage modulation. Experimental results show that for each beam waist, there exists an optimal topological charge that maximizes signal visibility, underscoring the importance of tuning beam parameters to maximize detection sensitivity. These findings validate prior simulation results and demonstrate the effectiveness of LDRs in detecting spatial features of structured light. This structured detector offers a compact and robust solution for angular sensing that can be easily integrated into any twisted light interferometry setup.