Backscattered polarization patterns, optical vortices, and the angular momentum of light

We demonstrate that the polarization patterns observed in backscattering of linearly polarized light are a manifestation of the conservation of angular momentum of light. We will show that this phenomenon can be described in terms of phase vortices that are acquired by the right and left circularly polarized components. The helicity and orbital angular momentum of these components satisfy the requirement for conservation of angular momentum.     

Manipulation of slow light with orbital angular momentum in cold atomic gases

We study the propagation of a weak pulse of slow light in a cloud of cold atoms controlled by two additional laser beams of larger intensity in a tripod configuration of the light-matter coupling. We consider a case where one of the control beams has an optical vortex and thus has a zero intensity at the center. The presence of the second control beams restores adiabaticity in the propagation of the probe beam. This makes it possible to exchange the optical vortex between the control and probe fields during the storage. We analyze conditions for the vortex of the control beam to be transferred efficiently to the restored probe beam.     

Measuring the quantum state of a large angular momentum

We demonstrate a general method to measure the quantum state of an angular momentum of arbitrary magnitude. The (2F+1)x(2F+1) density matrix is completely determined from a set of Stern-Gerlach measurements with (4F+1) different orientations of the quantization axis. We implement the protocol for laser cooled Cesium atoms in the 6S(1/2)(F = 4) hyperfine ground state and apply it to a variety of test states prepared by optical pumping and Larmor precession. A comparison of input and measured states shows typical reconstruction fidelities F >/~0.95.     

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.     

Self-homodyne detection of the light orbital angular momentum

A simple optical system for the self-homodyne detection of the orbital angular momentum (OAM) carried by optical beams is introduced. We propose two different schemes based on the use of optical hybrids, which could detect the OAM mode number, even when the input beam might be slightly distorted. A balanced receiver is used to perform a self-homodyne measure of the optical signal from two different locations at the beam wavefront.     

Observation of the orbital angular momentum spectrum of a light beam

We demonstrate an experimental scheme that allows the elucidation of the orbital angular momentum discrete spectrum of an arbitrary light signal. The orbital angular momentum spectrum is represented in a Laguerre-Gaussian mode base, and the spectral components are resolved in the frequency domain by exploiting the Doppler frequency shift that is imparted to rotating light beams.     

Quenching of magnetic transitions as an angular momentum effect

We investigate how the mechanisms of nuclear excitations and mesonic currents traditionally invoked to explain the quenching of low multipole magnetic transitions apply to higher spin operators. We find that there is a significant quenching of the low multipolarity spin-isospin operators by Δ-hole polarization, but that this effect decreases for higher multipoles. Conversely, the nucleon-hole polarization which has a negligible effect on low multipoles plays a predominant role in explaining the quenching of higher multipoles. Meson exchange currents provide a significant enhancement of the orbital operators but have only a slight effect on the spin components.     

Statistical theory of angular momentum polarization in chemical reactions

A general statistical treatment applicable to any vector property of reactive scattering is derived from angular correlation theory. This pertains to the usual experimental situation in which two or three vector directions are observed but numerous other vectors are random or unobserved, particularly various angular momentum vectors. The dependence of the cross section on the angles relating the observed vectors is expanded as a Legendre polynomial series, with coefficients which represent averages of angular momentum functions over the unobserved vectors. An algorithm for calculating these angular correlation coefficients is provided by the statistical theory. All non-vanishing terms involve only even-order Legendre polynomials. In many experiments, one or two terms are predominant. Classical and quantal versions give the same algorithm in the correspondence principle limit, which often holds for chemical reactions. The angular correlations involving the initial and final relative velocity vector directions [kcirc] and [kcirc]′ and the product rotational angular momentum j′ are treated in detail, including both pairwise and triple correlations. Explicit formulae are given for three choices of the quantization axis : along [kcirc], along [kcirc]′, and along [kcirc] × [kcirc]′. Coefficients for the ([kcirc], [kcirc]′, j′) correlations are tabulated for seven reactions as examples and comparison made with recent experimental measurements of the spatial orientation or polarization of j′ in reactions of alkali atoms with hydrogen halides and with methyl iodide.     

Statistical theory of angular momentum polarization in chemical reactions

A general statistical treatment applicable to any vector property of reactive scattering is derived from angular correlation theory. This pertains to the usual experimental situation in which two or three vector directions are observed but numerous other vectors are random or unobserved, particularly various angular momentum vectors. The dependence of the cross section on the angles relating the observed vectors is expanded as a Legendre polynomial series, with coefficients which represent averages of angular momentum functions over the unobserved vectors. An algorithm for calculating these angular correlation coefficients is provided by the statistical theory. All non-vanishing terms involve only even-order Legendre polynomials. In many experiments, one or two terms are predominant. Classical and quantal versions give the same algorithm in the correspondence principle limit, which often holds for chemical reactions. The angular correlations involving the initial and final relative velocity vector directions [kcirc] and [kcirc]′ and the product rotational angular momentum j′ are treated in detail, including both pairwise and triple correlations. Explicit formulae are given for three choices of the quantization axis: along [kcirc], along [kcirc]′, and along [kcirc] × [kcirc]′. Coefficients for the ([kcirc], [kcirc]′, j′) correlations are tabulated for seven reactions as examples and comparison made with recent experimental measurements of the spatial orientation or polarization of j′ in reactions of alkali atoms with hydrogen halides and with methyl iodide.     

Time-division multiplexing of the orbital angular momentum of light

We present an optical setup for generating a sequence of light pulses in which the orbital angular momentum (OAM) degree of freedom is correlated with the temporal one. The setup is based on a single q plate within a ring optical resonator. By this approach, we demonstrate the generation of a train of pulses carrying increasing values of OAM, or, alternatively, of a controlled temporal sequence of pulses having prescribed OAM superposition states. Finally, we exhibit an "OAM-to-time conversion" apparatus that divides different input OAM states into different time bins. The latter application provides a simple approach to digital spiral spectroscopy of pulsed light.     

NaK分子激发态的预离解和碰撞激发转移

用Ar+激光器固定频率488.0nm线激发Na-K混合蒸汽,NaK分子激发态通过自发辐射、预离解和与基态原子的碰撞激发转移而去布居,测量在不同K原子密度下原子荧光对分子荧光的强度比,结合NaK(E)态寿命,得到了预离解率和碰撞激发转移率.     

Coulomb Green's function with a fixed orbital angular momentum

A real integral representation is found for the Coulomb Green's function in the momentum representation for a negative energy E and for a fixed orbital angular momentuml. The first energy pole (n = 1) is separated and subtracted forl = 0.Translated from Izvestiya VUZ. Fizika, No. 3, pp. 46–49, March, 1970.     

Fraunhofer diffraction of light with orbital angular momentum by a slit

We study the Fraunhofer diffraction problem while taking into account the orbital angular momentum of light. In this case, the phase singularity of the light beam is incident on the slit in two different cases: in one, it is incident slightly above the slit, and in the other it is centered on the slit. We observed that the symmetry and the fringe formation in the interference pattern strongly depend on the amount of orbital angular momentum and the slit position in relation to the beam.     

Approximate angular momentum projection from an intrinsic random phase approximation Hartree-Fock state

An approximation procedure is described to calculate the projected energies from an intrinsicrpa hf wave function. The method of moments is used to find the relevant parameters. A model calculation is carried out for illustrative purposes.     

The angular momentum distribution of the deformed intrinsic nuclear state

In a Hartree-Fock or Hartree-Foek-Bogoliubov calculation of a deformed intrinsic state, one obtains a distribution of angular momentum states. Using an analogy from statistical mechanics, we obtain an expression for this distribution. The concept of an average temperature for the intrinsic state is introduced, which is directly related to the rotational energy content of the intrinsic state. The relationship of this temperature to microscopic particle-hole calculations is clarified. Assuming a rotational spectrum for the ground-state band of an axially symmetric doubly even nucleus, it is demonstrated that the deduced distribution of the angular momentum states gives rise to an overlap function of the intrinsic wave function which falls off, for small angles of rotation, as a Gaussian. Finally, the Yoccoz formula for the moment of inertia is derived using classical statistical mechanics, and semiclassical corrections to it are obtained.     

Depolarization of luminescence of polyatomic molecules in the gas phase as a method of determining the efficiency of collisional transfer of angular momentum

The theory of collisional depolarization of luminescence of extended polyatomic molecules in rarefiedgases is considered. The interrelation between the frequency of collisions, the relaxation time of the angular momentum, and the cross section of the luminescence depolarization is established, and the dependence of these parameters on the efficiency of an abrupt change in the angular momentum is calculated. The use of the theory of collisions of solids in the Enskog approximation made it possible to take into account the effect of the shape and mass of colliding molecules on the degree of depolarization. It is established that, in terms of this theory, there exists a limiting efficiency of an abrupt change in the angular momentum, which, however, does not attain the value proposed in the model of strong collisions (Jdiffusion). The dependence of the depolarization of luminescence of 1,4-di-(2-5-p-tolyloxazolyl) benzene molecules on the concentration of a buffer gas (argon) is measured. It is found that about five collisions with Ar atoms are required for randomization of the angular momentum of these molecules.     

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.     

Efficient sorting of orbital angular momentum states of light

We present a method to efficiently sort orbital angular momentum (OAM) states of light using two static optical elements. The optical elements perform a Cartesian to log-polar coordinate transformation, converting the helically phased light beam corresponding to OAM states into a beam with a transverse phase gradient. A subsequent lens then focuses each input OAM state to a different lateral position. We demonstrate the concept experimentally by using two spatial light modulators to create the desired optical elements, applying it to the separation of eleven OAM states.     

Reflection of the light beam carrying orbital angular momentum from a lossy medium

It is shown that after reflection from a lossy medium the s- or p-polarized paraxial light beam carrying the orbital angular momentum suffers the 2D shift of the beam's centre of gravity relative the geometric optic axis. The direction as well as the length of the 2D vector, which describes the shift, change smoothly with the change of the angle of incidence.