Title | Spin-induced angular momentum switching |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2007 |
Authors | Calvo, GF, Picon, A |
Journal | Optics Letters |
Volume | 32 |
Issue | 7 |
Pagination | 838–840 |
Date Published | 04/2007 |
Keywords | angular momentum, anisotropic optical materials, polarization, polarization-selective devices, quantum optics |
Abstract | When light is transmitted through optically inhomogeneous and anisotropic media the spatial distribution of light can be modified according to its input polarization state. A complete analysis of this process, based on the paraxial approximation, is presented, and we show how it can be exploited to produce a spin-controlled change in the orbital angular momentum of light beams propagating in patterned space-variant optical axis phase plates. We also unveil a new effect: the development of a strong modulation in the angular momentum change upon variation of the optical path through the phase plates. |
URL | http://ol.osa.org/abstract.cfm?URI=ol-32-7-838 |
DOI | 10.1364/OL.32.000838 |
