We propose to realize an optical device based on the properties of photon
orbital angular momentum (POAM) to detect the presence of closeby faint
companions in double systems using Laguerre-Gaussian (L-G) modes of the light.
We test also the possibility of using L-G modes to build coronagraph mask. We
realized in the laboratory a prototype using a blazed l=1 hologram to simulate
the separation between two stars, as observed with a telescope, in
Laguerre-Gaussian modes.Comment: 2 pages, XLIX meeting of the Italian Astronomical Society (SAIT
