Work

Structured transverse orbital angular momentum probed by a levitated optomechanical sensor

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: The momentum carried by structured light fields exhibits a rich array of surprising features. In this work, we generate transverse orbital angular momentum (TOAM) in the interference field of two parallel and counter-propagating linearly-polarised focused beams, synthesising an array of identical handedness vortices carrying intrinsic TOAM. We explore this structured light field using an optomechanical sensor, consisting of an optically levitated silicon nanorod, whose rotation is a probe of the optical angular momentum, which generates an exceptionally large torque. This simple creation and direct observation of TOAM will have applications in studies of fundamental physics, the optical manipulation of matter and quantum optomechanics.

Source: Nature Communications

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38261-7

Authors: Yanhui Hu, Jack J. Kingsley-Smith, Maryam Nikkhou, James A. Sabin, Francisco J. Rodríguez-Fortuño, Xiaohao Xu, James Millen

Institutions: King's College London, London Centre for Nanotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, State Key Laboratory of Transient Optics and Photonics

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: $6,290

Funders: Royal Society, European Commission, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province, H2020 European Research Council

Awards: G1197373990, G2157582737, G229353365, G2562653775, G2852757680, G3089305061, G4705686177, Levitated particles as the heart of miniaturized sensing technologies, G4958964357, G6238079054, G6419987021, Levitated Nanoparticles for Technology and Quantum Nanophysics: New frontiers in physics at the nanoscale.

OpenAlex ID: W4372338101

FWCI: 6.643

Cites: 51

Cited by: 58

Related to: 10