Related papers: Transverse spin and orbital angular momenta in rot…
Motivated by recent progress in the generation of optical spatiotemporal vortex pulses (STVPs), there is a theoretical discussion about the transverse orbital angular momentum (OAM) carried by such pulses. Two recent works [K. Y. Bliokh,…
This paper analyzes the algebraic and physical properties of the spin and orbital angular momenta of light in the quantum mechanical framework. The consequences of the fact that these are not angular momenta in the quantum mechanical sense…
It is known that internal energy flow in a light beam can be divided into the orbital flow, associated with the macroscopic energy redistribution within the beam, and the spin flow originating from instantaneous rotation of the field…
It has been recently recognized that in addition to the conventional longitudinal angular momentum, structured (inhomogeneous) optical fields exhibit helicity-independent transverse spin angular momentum (SAM) and an unusual spin (circular…
We demonstrate the excitation, using a structured light beam carrying orbital angular momentum, of the center of mass motion of a single atom in the transverse direction to the beam's propagation. This interaction is achieved with a vortex…
Momentum and spin represent fundamental dynamical properties of quantum particles and fields. In particular, propagating optical waves (photons) carry momentum and longitudinal spin determined by the wave vector and circular polarization,…
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 non-uniform beam, and thus to the radiation pressure exerted on…
Orbital angular momentum of light is a core feature in photonics. Its confinement to surfaces using plasmonics has unlocked many phenomena and potential applications. Here we introduce the reflection from structural boundaries as a new…
We examine several retro-reflecting optical elements, each involving two reflections. In the case of a hollow metallic cone having an apex angle of 90\degree, a circularly-polarized incident beam acquires, upon reflection, the opposite spin…
We demonstrate that the orbital angular momentum flux density of a paraxial light beam can change on propagation in free space. These changes are entirely due to the spatial coherence state of the source, and the effect is analogous to…
The orbital angular momentum (OAM) of light and optical vortices are closely related concepts that are often conflated. The conserved OAM arises fundamentally from the SO(3) rotational symmetry of spacetime, while the concept of vortices…
When structured light is propagated through the atmosphere, turbulence results in modal scattering and distortions. An extensively studied example is that of light carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM), where the atmosphere is treated as…
A plane, monochromatic electromagnetic wave propagating in free space can have a certain amount of spin angular momentum but cannot possess any orbital angular momentum. Even the spin angular momentum of the plane-wave is difficult to…
We discuss in detail the relativistic spatial distribution of transverse angular momentum, including both orbital and intrinsic spin contributions. Using the quantum phase-space formalism, we begin with the definition of the…
Light possesses both spin and orbital angular momentum, which can spontaneously couple in spatially asymmetric optical fields. This phenomenon is referred to as optical spin-orbit coupling. This coupling is pivotal in modern optics due to…
The angular momentum density and flux of light in a dispersive, rotationally symmetric medium are derived from Noether's theorem. Optical angular momentum in a dispersive medium has no simple relation to optical linear momentum, even if the…
A study of nonreciprocal transverse-spin angular-momentum-density shifts for evanescent waves in magneto-optic waveguide media is presented. Their functional relation to electromagnetic spin- and orbital-momenta is presented and analyzed.…
The dynamics of vortex rings in fluids have long captivated researchers due to the intriguing complexity of their behavior, despite the apparent simplicity of their structure. In optics, photonic toroidal vortices constitute a novel class…
We study the near field to the far field evolution of spin angular momentum (SAM) density and the Poynting vector of the scattered waves from spherical scatterers. The results show that at the near field, the SAM density and the Poynting…
We develop the quantum theory of transverse angular momentum of light beams. The theory applies to paraxial and quasi-paraxial photon beams in vacuum, and reproduces the known results for classical beams when applied to coherent states of…