Angular momentum of optical vortex arrays
Angular momentum of optical vortex arrays
Guided by the aim to construct light fields with spin-like orbital angular momentum (OAM), that is light fields with a uniform and intrinsic OAM density, we investigate the OAM of arrays of optical vortices with rectangular symmetry. We find that the OAM per unit cell depends on the choice of unit cell and can even change sign when the unit cell is translated. This is the case even if the OAM in each unit cell is intrinsic, that is independent of the choice of measurement axis. We show that spin-like OAM can be found only if the OAM per unit cell vanishes. Our results are applicable to the z component of the angular momentum of any x- and y-periodic momentum distribution in the xy plane, and can also be applied other periodic light beams, arrays of rotating massive objects and periodic motion of liquids.
938-949
Courtial, Johannes
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Zambrini, Roberta
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Dennis, Mark R.
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Vasnetsov, Mikhail
e119341e-6746-4265-ad2d-a479d309dd7f
2006
Courtial, Johannes
6389c2b7-7582-46cf-a437-a2be088daf4a
Zambrini, Roberta
08b2d8ff-b7ff-4c37-81b9-445d5981c734
Dennis, Mark R.
8b00c8a0-30e2-4690-bfde-02916f80de2f
Vasnetsov, Mikhail
e119341e-6746-4265-ad2d-a479d309dd7f
Courtial, Johannes, Zambrini, Roberta, Dennis, Mark R. and Vasnetsov, Mikhail
(2006)
Angular momentum of optical vortex arrays.
Optics Express, 14 (2), .
Abstract
Guided by the aim to construct light fields with spin-like orbital angular momentum (OAM), that is light fields with a uniform and intrinsic OAM density, we investigate the OAM of arrays of optical vortices with rectangular symmetry. We find that the OAM per unit cell depends on the choice of unit cell and can even change sign when the unit cell is translated. This is the case even if the OAM in each unit cell is intrinsic, that is independent of the choice of measurement axis. We show that spin-like OAM can be found only if the OAM per unit cell vanishes. Our results are applicable to the z component of the angular momentum of any x- and y-periodic momentum distribution in the xy plane, and can also be applied other periodic light beams, arrays of rotating massive objects and periodic motion of liquids.
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Published date: 2006
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Local EPrints ID: 29397
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/29397
ISSN: 1094-4087
PURE UUID: 561bc7a8-a5b3-42df-b579-742abfc88f84
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Date deposited: 11 May 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 07:31
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Author:
Johannes Courtial
Author:
Roberta Zambrini
Author:
Mark R. Dennis
Author:
Mikhail Vasnetsov
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