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.     

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.     

Subwave spikes of the orbital angular momentum of the vortex beams in a uniaxial crystal

We have theoretically predicted gigantic spikes of orbital angular momentum caused by conversion processes of the centered optical vortex in the circularly polarized components of an elliptic vortex beam propagating perpendicularly to the crystal optical axis. We have experimentally observed the conversion process inside subwave deviations of the crystal length. We have found that the total orbital angular momentum of the wave beam is conserved.     

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.     

光子角动量在环形金属纳米孔异常透射过程中的作用

在环形凹槽包围环形金属纳米孔的异常透射器件的研究中,环形凹槽可以将携带光子角动量的入射光转化为涡旋表面等离极化激元,这些涡旋表面等离极化激元传向几何中心并与直接照射在环形纳米孔上的光子发生干涉,当相互干涉的光子满足相位匹配条件时,环形纳米孔的透射率得到显著增强.本文利用理论分析和数值计算的方法研究了光子角动量和凹槽半径对环形纳米孔透射过程的影响.我们发现调节环形凹槽的半径和入射光携带的光子角动量可以调节光子在金膜上表面传输时的径向传播相位,进而影响了环形纳米孔附近的干涉电场强度,最终决定了环形纳米孔的透射率,进而可以通过调节凹槽的半径来调节携带不同光子角动量的光束在环形纳米孔的透射率.本文的研究结果对基于涡旋表面等离极化激元的异常透射器件的设计具有重要的指导意义.     

A simple analytical model of the angular momentum transformation in strongly focused light beams

A ray-optics model is proposed to describe the vector beam transformation in a strongly focusing optical system. In contrast to usual approaches based on the focused field distribution near the focal plane, we use the beam pattern formed immediately after the exit aperture. In this cross section, details of the output field distribution are of minor physical interest but proper allowance is made for transformation of the beam polarization state. This enables the spin and orbital angular momentum representations to be obtained, which are valid for any cross section of the transformed beam. Simple analytical results are available for a transversely homogeneous, circularly polarized incident beam confined by a circular aperture. Variations of the spin and orbital angular momenta of the output beam with change of the focusing strength are analyzed. The analytical results are in good qualitative and reasonable quantitative agreement with the results of numerical calculations performed for the Gaussian and Laguerre-Gaussian beams. The model supplies an efficient and physically transparent means for qualitative analysis of the spin-to-orbital angular momentum conversion. It can be generalized to incident beams with complex spatial and polarization structure.     

利用具有轨道角动量的光束实现微粒的旋转

采用扭转柱面镜光学系统将半导体激光抽运固体激光器产生的厄米高斯光束变换成为具有轨道角动量的扭转对称光束.利用该光束具有的轨道角动量特性研制成功了“光学扳手”， 利用“光学扳手”实现了对微米量级微粒的俘获和旋转. 关键词： 轨道角动量 扭转对称光束 光学扳手 光束变换     

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.     

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.     

Optical and sound helical structures in a Mandelstam-Brillouin mirror

It is shown theoretically that the phase conjugation of a speckle optical field in a Mandelstam-Brillouin mirror is accompanied by the excitation of helical hypersonic waves with a step equal to one-half of the optical wavelength. The excitation of these waves violates the initial isotropy of the dielectric medium. The predicted effect admits clear physical interpretation based on the angular momentum conservation. The angular momentum transfer from the light to the medium occurs in the vicinity of an optical singularity (optical vortex line) due to reversal of the light orbital angular momentum by the phase-conjugation mirror. The excitation of hypersonic waves transferring the angular momentum is the necessary condition for the reversal of the angular momentum of the reflected light.     

Linear and angular momenta in tightly focused vortex segmented beams of light(Invited Paper)

We investigate the linear momentum density of light,which can be decomposed into spin and orbital parts,in the complex three-dimensional field distributions of tightly focused vortex segmented beams.The chosen angular spectrum exhibits two spatially separated vortices of opposite charge and orthogonal circular polarization to generate phase vortices in a meridional plane of observation.In the vicinity of those vortices,regions of negative orbital linear momentum occur.Besides these phase vortices,the occurrence of transverse orbital angular momentum manifests in a vortex charge-dependent relative shift of the energy density and linear momentum density.     

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 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.     

Focusing of elliptically polarized Gaussian beams through an annular high numerical aperture

Based on the vectorial Debye theory,the focusing properties of the Gaussian beam through an annular high numerical aperture are studied numerically,including the intensity,the phase and the orbital angular momentum properties.Then the influence of certain parameters on the focusing properties is also investigated.It is shown that sub-wavelength elliptical light spots can be obtained.And there exists a vortex in the longitudinal component of the focused field even though the incident beam is Gaussian beam,indicating that the spin angular momentum of the elliptically polarized Gaussian beam is converted into the orbital angular momentum by the focusing.     

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.     

Asymmetric optical beam manipulation via polarization and spatial phase-dependency

We report on an optical beam produced by superimposing radially- and circularly-polarized laser beams for active control of the location of the beam's intensity. The asymmetric intensity distribution relative to the beam's central axis, and its location is determined by the relative phase difference between the two beams. Since the beam has a planar wavefront, it carries no orbital angular momentum, yet it shares phase singularity and spiral interference characteristics commonly associated with helical wavefronts. Such an optical beam is valuable for applications in optical–optical switches and routers, optical steering, and also optical trapping and rotation, or driving opto-micromachines.     

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.     

Experimental observation of spin-independent transverse shift of the centre of gravity of a reflected Laguerre-Gaussian light beam

We report experimental observation of a transverse shift of the centre of gravity of partially reflected optical beam having non-zero orbital angular momentum. The results are in reasonable agreement with the theoretical predictions. Possibility of using such shift for measurement of orbital angular momentum state of photon is discussed.     

Generation of three-dimensional versatile vortex linear light bullets(Invited Paper)

We generate and measure the versatile vortex linear light bullet,which combines a high-order Bessel beam and an Airy pulse.This three-dimensional optical wave packet propagates without distortion in any medium,while carrying an orbital angular momentum.Its non-varying feature in linear propagation is verified by a threedimensional measurement.Such a novel versatile linear light bullet can be useful in various applications such as micromachining.     

Management of the orbital angular momentum of vortex beams in a quadratic nonlinear interaction

Light intensity control of the orbital angular momentum of the fundamental beam in a quadratic nonlinear process is theoretically and numerically presented. In particular we analyzed a seeded second harmonic generation process in presence of orbital angular momentum of the interacting beams due both to on axis and off axis optical vortices. Examples are proposed and discussed.