Spin-induced angular momentum switching

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.

The original paper of the published version in Opt. Lett

References in corpus (5)

• Optical spin-to-orbital angular momentum conversion in inhomogeneous anisotropic media
• Experimental One-Way Quantum Computing
• Generation of Hyperentangled Photons Pairs
• Chiral molecules split light: Reflection and refraction in a chiral liquid
• Measuring two-photon orbital angular momentum entanglement

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• Light propagation in a birefringent plates with topological charge
• Single-photon spin-orbit entanglement violating a Bell-like inequality
• Interplay between diffraction and the Pancharatnam-Berry phase in inhomogeneously twisted anisotropic media
• Spin and Orbital angular momentum propagation in anisotropic media: theory
• Waveguiding driven by the Pancharatnam-Berry phase
• Manipulation of single-photon states encoded in transverse spatial modes: possible and impossible tasks