The noise-induced coherence created via the quantum interference of incoherent radiation in atomic three-level systems of V and Λ types driven by a pair of weak laser pulses is shown to result in exchange of optical vortices. In the three- level V-type atom-light coupling the system is populated in its ground level, while in the Λ model the system is initially prepared in an electromagnetically induced transparency state. By solving the quantum optical Maxwell-Bloch equations and with quantum interference of incoherent radiation present, we show that the orbital angular momentum (OAM) of the vortex probe beam can be transferred to a generated signal field. While the exchange efficiency in the V configuration is higher, the losses are less in the Λ scheme when we consider such a noise-induced coherence. We further discuss the effects of phase mismatching and inhomogeneous broadening on the energy conversion between light beams carrying OAM.

• Received 2 August 2021
• Revised 11 January 2022
• Accepted 28 February 2022

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.105.033709