Year: 2017
Type: article
Abstract: We theoretically demonstrate for the first time that a single free electron in circular or spiral motion emits twisted photons carrying well-defined orbital angular momentum along the axis of the electron circulation, in adding to spin angular momentum. We show that, when the electron velocity is relativistic, the radiation field contains harmonic components and the photons of lth harmonic carry lℏ total angular momentum for each. This work indicates that twisted photons are naturally emitted by free electrons and are more ubiquitous in laboratories and in nature than ever thought.
Source: Physical Review Letters
Institutions: National Institutes of Natural Sciences, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Institute for Molecular Science, Muroran Institute of Technology, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, SAGA Light Source, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Nagoya University
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2531762302