Work

Quantum optical spanner: Twisting superconductors with vortex beam via Higgs mode

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Light carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM)---known as vortex beams---has broadened the scope of understanding and applications of light's angular momentum. Optical tweezers using OAM, often referred to as optical spanners, have significantly expanded the tunability of optical manipulation. A key frontier now lies in understanding how vortex beams interact with quantum states of matter. In this work, we numerically investigate the dynamics of a superconductor under vortex beam illumination and demonstrate the transfer of angular momentum from light to the superconducting collective mode, resulting in mechanical rotation. Our findings open a pathway for optical manipulation in the quantum regime, which we term the quantum optical spanner.

Source: Physical review. B./Physical review. B

DOI: 10.1103/cj3p-jqxg

Authors: Daemo Kang, Sota Kitamura, Takahiro Morimoto

Institution: The University of Tokyo

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: green

Funders: Japan Science and Technology Corporation, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology