2017/09/14 by Liang Fang, Jian Wang · 14 citations
Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Angular momentum #Angular momentum coupling #Angular momentum of light #Optical vortex #Orbital Angular Momentum in Optics #Orbital angular momentum of light #Quantum Information and Cryptography #Quantum optics and atomic interactions #Spin (aerodynamics) #Superposition principle #Total angular momentum quantum number #physics.optics
paper · pdf · open access · doi:10.1364/oe.25.023364
published in Optics Express 25(19), 23364 (Optica Publishing Group)
openalex publication_date 2017/09/14 · openalex created_date 2017/09/25 · arxiv created 2019/12/08 · arxiv updated 2019/12/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Optical intrinsic angular momentum can be regarded as derivation from spatial superposition of optical vector fields embodied by spinning or/and spiraling the electric-field vector. We employ vectorial formulation derivation to comprehensively study all angular momentum contents of optical vector fields in arbitrary superposition states, including the longitudinal and transverse, spin and orbital (SAM and OAM) components. As for the orthogonal superposition fields, there inherently exists spin-orbit shift from longitudinal SAM to OAM, and the whole local spin flow manifests local multiple-fold helical trajectories. Especially, both the spin-orbit shift and transverse SAM could become considerable in the non-paraxial condition. Our studies here provide an explicit insight into the derivation and evolution, intrinsic correlations and salient features of various types of angular momentum components.