Angular Momentum of Topologically Structured Darkness
Publication Date
11-16-2017
Document Type
Article
Organizational Units
College of Natual Science and Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy
Keywords
Angular momentum of light, Classical optics, Optical vortices
Abstract
We theoretically analyze and experimentally measure the extrinsic angular momentum contribution of topologically structured darkness found within fractional vortex beams, and show that this structured darkness can be explained by evanescent waves at phase discontinuities in the generating optic. We also demonstrate the first direct measurement of the intrinsic orbital angular momentum of light with both intrinsic and extrinsic angular momentum, and explain why the total orbital angular momenta of fractional vortices do not match the winding number of their generating phases.
Publication Statement
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Recommended Citation
Alperin, Samuel N, and Siemens, Mark E. "Angular Momentum of Topologically Structured Darkness." Physical Review Letters 119.20 (2017): 203902. Web. doi: 10.1103/physrevlett.119.203902