Angular momenta and spin-orbit interaction of nonparaxial light in free space

Konstantin Y. Bliokh, Miguel A. Alonso, Elena A. Ostrovskaya, and Andrea Aiello
Phys. Rev. A 82, 063825 – Published 21 December 2010

Abstract

We give an exact self-consistent operator description of the spin and orbital angular momenta, position, and spin-orbit interactions of nonparaxial light in free space. Both quantum-operator formalism and classical energy-flow approach are presented. We apply the general theory to symmetric and asymmetric Bessel beams exhibiting spin- and orbital-dependent intensity profiles. The exact wave solutions are clearly interpreted in terms of the Berry phases, quantization of caustics, and Hall effects of light, which can be readily observed experimentally.

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  • Received 19 June 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.82.063825

©2010 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Konstantin Y. Bliokh1,*, Miguel A. Alonso2,3, Elena A. Ostrovskaya4, and Andrea Aiello5,6

  • 1Applied Optics Group, School of Physics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, Ireland
  • 2Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
  • 3Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P. O. Box 13500, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
  • 4ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum-Atom Optics and Nonlinear Physics Centre, Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
  • 5Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Günter-Scharowsky-Straβe 1/Bau 24, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
  • 6Institute for Optics, Information and Photonics, University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 7/B2, 91058 Erlangen, Germany

  • *k.bliokh@gmail.com

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Issue

Vol. 82, Iss. 6 — December 2010

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