Optical forces and torques in nonuniform beams of light

The spin angular momentum in an elliptically polarized beam of light plays several noteworthy roles in optical traps. It contributes to the linear momentum density in a nonuniform beam, and thus to the radiation pressure exerted on illuminated objects. It can be converted into orbital angular momentum, and thus can exert torques even on optically isotropic objects. Its curl, moreover, contributes to both forces and torques without spin-to-orbit conversion. We demonstrate these effects experimentally by tracking colloidal spheres diffusing in elliptically polarized optical tweezers. Clusters of spheres circulate deterministically about the beam's axis. A single sphere, by contrast, undergoes stochastic Brownian vortex circulation that maps out the optical force field.     

A crossed focused vortex beam with application to cold molecules

We report the generation of a crossed, focused, optical vortex beam by using a pair of hybrid holograms, which combine the vortex phase and lens phase onto a spatial light modulator. We study the intensity distributions of the vortex beam in free propagation space, and the relationship of its dark spot size with the incident Gaussian beam's waist, the lens's focal length, and its orbital angular momentum. Our results show that the crossed, focused, vortex beam's dark spot size can be as small as 16.3μm and adjustable by the quantum number of the orbital angular momentum, and can be used to increase the density of trapped molecules. Furthermore, we calculate the optical potential of the blue-detuned, crossed vortex beam for MgF molecules. It is applicable to cool and trap neutral molecules by intensity-gradient-induced Sisyphus cooling, as the intensity gradient of such vortex beam is extremely high near the focal point.     

Evolution of the vortex and the asymmetrical parts of orbital angular momentum in separable first-order optical systems

We analyze the evolution of the vortex and the asymmetrical parts of orbital angular momentum during its propagation through separable first-order optical systems. We find that the evolution of the vortex part depends on only parameters a(x), a(y), b(x), and b(y) of the ray transformation matrix and that isotropic systems with the same ratio b/a produce the same change of the vortex part of the orbital angular momentum. Finally, it is shown that, when light propagates through an optical fiber with a quadratic refractive-index profile, the vortex part of the orbital angular momentum cannot change its sign more than four times per period.     

Observation of orbital angular momentum transfer between acoustic and optical vortices in optical fiber

Acousto-optic interaction in optical fiber is examined from the perspective of copropagating optical and acoustic vortex modes. Calculation of the acousto-optic coupling coefficient between different optical modes leads to independent conservation of spin and orbital angular momentum of the interacting photons and phonons. We show that the orbital angular momentum of the acoustic vortex can be transferred to a circularly polarized fundamental optical mode to form a stable optical vortex in the fiber carrying orbital angular momentum. The technique provides a useful way of generating stable optical vortices in the fiber medium.     

平板式螺旋相位板的设计与应用

传统的螺旋相位板是一种利用沿方位角方向介质材料高度递增实现对光束相位调控产生涡旋光束的光学器件,由于这种特殊的几何结构特征使其不能通过相位板的叠加而调控出射光束所携带的角量子数.本文基于坐标变换方法将介质材料沿方位角方向折射率不变而高度递增的传统螺旋相位板变换为一种介质材料沿方位角方向高度不变而折射率递增的平板式螺旋相位板.通过理论分析与数值模拟,发现本文所设计的平板式螺旋相位板不仅与传统螺旋相位板一样能够产生高质量的涡旋光束,而且平板式螺旋相位板的高度和涡旋光束携带的角量子数可以根据介质材料的折射率选取而任意调节.为了实际应用的需要,可以通过叠加多层平板式螺旋相位板以获得不同角量子数的涡旋光束.这种平板式螺旋相位板在光传输、光通信等领域具有广阔的潜在应用价值.     

Separation of spin angular momentum in space-variant linearly polarized beam

We show that the spin angular momentum (SAM) flux in a space-variant linearly polarized beam can be separated in the focal plane. Such a beam carries only orbital angular momentum (OAM) and develops a net SAM flux upon focusing. The radial splitting of the SAM flux density is mediated by the phase vortex (or OAM) and can be controlled by the topological charge of the phase vortex. Optical trapping experiments verify the separation of the SAM flux density. The proposed approach enriches the manipulation of the angular momentum of light fields and inspires more designs of focus engineering, which would benefit optical micromanipulation of microscopic particles.     

Optical orbital angular momentum from the curl of polarization

We predict a new category of optical orbital angular momentum that is associated with the curl of polarization and a kind of vector field with radial-variant hybrid states of polarization that can carry such novel optical orbital angular momentum. We present a scheme for creating the desired vector fields. Optical trapping experiments validate that the vector fields, which have no additional phase vortex, exert torques to drive the orbital motion of the trapped isotropic microspheres.     

Rotational motions of optically trapped microscopic particles by a vortex femtosecond laser

The rotational motions of the optically trapped microscopic particles by the vortex femtosecond laser beam are investigated in this paper.Black particles can be trapped and rotated by a vortex femtosecond laser beam very effectively because the vortex beam carries orbital angular momentum due to the helical wave-front structure in assoication with the central phase singularity.Trapped black particles rotate in the vortex beam due to the absorption of the angular momentum transferred from the vortex beam.The rotating directions of the trapped particles can be modulated by reversing the topological charge of the optical vortex in the vortex femtosecond beam.And the rotating speeds of the trapped microscopic particles greatly depend on the topological charges of the vortex tweezer and the used pulse energies.     

Mass of the higgs versus fourth generation masses

Double sign inversion of the topological charge of an optical vortex was predicted and observed experimentally for a beam focused by a cylindrical lens. Beam evolution after passing through the lens is analyzed by the decomposition of the orbital angular momentum into the “vortical” and “mechanical” components. Topological reactions in the beam wave resulting in the sign inversion of the optical vortex upon the intersection of the wave-front edge dislocation are considered.     

利用干涉光场的相位涡旋测量拉盖尔-高斯光束的轨道角动量

对拉盖尔-高斯光束经多圆孔衍射屏在远场平面上形成的干涉光场的相位和零值线进行了计算模拟.当入射光束的轨道角动量量子数为零时,实部零值线与虚部零值线在干涉光场中心点不相交,因而在该点上不能形成相位涡旋.当入射光束的轨道角动量量子数为+1和-1时,实部零值线与虚部零值线在干涉光场中心垂直并相交,干涉光场相应位置处的相位涡旋的符号相反.当入射光束的轨道角动量量子数为±2和±3时,有四条零值线相交于干涉光场的中心点上,并且实部零值线和虚部零值线交替分布,该交点处形成的相位涡旋的拓扑荷的值恰好与拉盖尔-高斯光束的轨道角动量量子数相等.这种结果可以用来测量涡旋光束的轨道角动量.     

On the Development of Controllable Sources of Single-Photon States with an Orbital Angular Momentum on the Basis of Spontaneous Parametric Down-Conversion of Light

Methods for beam shaping with nonzero orbital angular momentum are studied using diffraction optical elements with the purpose of developing a source of single-photon states based on spontaneous parametric down-conversion of light in the LiNbO₃ crystal in the cavity resonator. The probability of the coincidence of the number of photocounts in detecting signal and idle fields under pumping by a beam with the orbital angular momentum is simulated.     

Resistance of nondiffracting vortex beam against amplitude and phase perturbations

The revival of the nondiffracting vortex beam after its interaction with the 2D on axis obstacle is examined. We show that the phase topology and the spatial distribution of the orbital angular momentum of the beam transmitted through the obstacle regenerate to the initial form during further free propagation. We verify that the healing effect appears even if the interaction is accompanied by the exchange of the orbital angular momentum.     

Measuring the orbital angular momentum of elliptical vortex beams by using a slit hexagon aperture

The far-field diffraction pattern of an elliptical vortex beam by a slit hexagon aperture is investigated theoretically and experimentally. It is found that the number of the dark spots or stripes in the Fraunhofer diffraction intensity distribution is just equal to the topological charge value of the measured optical vortex, and that the centre of each dark spot or stripe is just a phase singularity point. Based on this property, it provides us a simple way to detect the orbital angular momentum (OAM) of an optical vortex beam.     

Intrinsic and extrinsic nature of the orbital angular momentum of a light beam

We explain that, unlike the spin angular momentum of a light beam which is always intrinsic, the orbital angular momentum may be either extrinsic or intrinsic. Numerical calculations of both spin and orbital angular momentum are confirmed by means of experiments with particles trapped off axis in optical tweezers, where the size of the particle means it interacts with only a fraction of the beam profile. Orbital angular momentum is intrinsic only when the interaction with matter is about an axis where there is no net transverse momentum.     

Astigmatic telescopic transformation of a high-order optical vortex

Properties of an optical vortex light beam formed after the astigmatic telescopic transformation of a circular Laguerre-Gaussian mode are considered both theoretically and experimentally. The beam evolution is found to be in conformity with the general notions on the high-order optical vortex symmetry breakdown. Upon propagation, the asymmetric beam shows a sort of rotation of its transverse profile in accord with the energy circulation in the original circular mode; this process is described on the base of the beam intensity moments and the vortex and asymmetry components of its orbital angular momentum. An l-charged optical vortex converts into |l| secondary first-order vortices positioned on a straight line crossing the beam axis. Orientation of this straight line in the beam cross section and spatial separation of the secondary vortex cores depend on the propagation distance. Morphology (orientation and anisotropy) of all the secondary vortices is the same and depends on the propagation distance; the anisotropy can be characterized by the vortex component of the beam angular momentum. At certain distance, relative separation of secondary vortices with respect to the beam transverse size reaches its maximum that corresponds to the minimum anisotropy of the vortices. The results can be useful in the context of current research of the optical vortex arrays.     

Transverse mode multiplexing using the helical eigen-beams of orbital angular momentum

The eigen-beams of orbital angular momentum (OAM) have helical wavefront and can be used to construct the channels for free space optical communication, i.e. orbital angular momentum multiplexing (OAMM). It is similar to time-division multiplexing (TDM) and wave-division multiplexing (WDM). We generate four helical beams with different OAM numbers by fork-like grating and modulates them mechanically. The modulated helical beams are then superposed coaxially into one single complex beam. In the receiver, the complex beam is separated into four helical beams with little mutual interference. The experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of OAMM by using the eigen-beams of orbital angular momentum.     

Wavelength-scalable micro-fabricated wedge for generation of optical vortex beam in optical manipulation

An optical wedge phase plate is fabricated for the study of vortex beam generation in optical manipulation. It is demonstrated that the wedge phase element provides scalability for generating the vortex beam at different wavelengths as long as the incident beam size is adjusted accordingly. The presence of singularity for different wavelengths and the associated orbital angular momentum are confirmed experimentally in optical manipulation. Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users. PACS 41.85.Ct; 42.82.Cr     

Spin-to-orbital angular momentum conversion and spin-polarization filtering in electron beams

We propose the design of a space-variant Wien filter for electron beams that induces a spin half-turn and converts the corresponding spin angular momentum variation into orbital angular momentum of the beam itself by exploiting a geometrical phase arising in the spin manipulation. When applied to a spatially coherent input spin-polarized electron beam, such a device can generate an electron vortex beam, carrying orbital angular momentum. When applied to an unpolarized input beam, the proposed device, in combination with a suitable diffraction element, can act as a very effective spin-polarization filter. The same approach can also be applied to neutron or atom beams.     

Electro-optically forbidden or enhanced spin-to-orbital angular momentum conversion in a focused light beam

We demonstrate that the conversion of spin-to-orbital angular momentum in a focused vectorial light beam can be forbidden or enhanced by the electric-field-erased or increased spatial anisotropy of a uniaxial crystal undergoing the Pockels effect. A focused right-handed circularly polarized quasi-Gaussian beam incident on an electro-optic crystal strontium barium niobate is taken to illustrate the effect, and a conversion-forbidden electric field E(0)=-16.87 kV/cm is found. Of special interest is that single photons generated in this effect exhibit an entanglement of 2 deg of freedom of spin and orbital angular momentum, and it is electro-optically controllable.