Work

Direct observation of the transfer of orbital angular momentum to metal particles from a focused circularly polarized Gaussian beam

Year: 2009

Type: article

Abstract: It is well known that a circularly polarized Gaussian beam carries spin angular momentum, but not orbital angular momentum. This paper demonstrates that focusing a beam carrying spin angular momentum can induce an orbital angular momentum which we used to drive the orbital motion of a micron-sized metal particle that is trapped off the beam axis. The direction of the orbital motion is controlled by the handedness of the circular polarization. The orbiting dynamics of the trapped particle, which acted as an optical micro-detector, were quantitatively measured and found to be in excellent agreement with the theoretical predictions.

Source: Optics Express

DOI: 10.1364/oe.17.023316

Authors: Yiqiong Zhao, David Shapiro, David Mcgloin, Daniel T. Chiu, Stefano Marchesini

Institutions: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Advanced Light Source, University of Dundee, University of Washington

Language: English

Topic: Orbital Angular Momentum in Optics

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,270

OpenAlex ID: W2007548692

FWCI: 1.672

Cites: 13

Cited by: 88

Related to: 10