System and method for making concentration measurements within a sample material using orbital angular momentum

A method for identifying a specific material, comprising

• receiving a signal after the signal passes through the first material, the signal having at least one orthogonal function therein, the at least one orthogonal function comprised of at least one of an orbital angular momentum function or a Laguerre-Gaussian function;
• detecting the at least one orthogonal function within the signal;
• determining the concentration of the specific material within the first material based upon the detected at least one orthogonal function;
• generating an indication responsive to the determination;
• and
• providing the generated indication.

An apparatus for identifying a specific material within a first material, comprising:

• an input for receiving a signal after the signal passes through the first material, the signal having at least one orthogonal function therein, the at least one orthogonal function comprised of at least one of an orbital angular momentum function or a Laguerre-Gaussian function;
• a detector for detecting the at least one orthogonal function within the signal, for identifying the specific material within the first material based upon the detected at least one orthogonal function and for generating an indication responsive to the identification;
• and
• an output for providing the generated indication.