An intuitive view of the origin of orbital angular momentum in optical vortices

Sheng-Yanng Tseng; Long Hsu

doi:10.1117/12.678904

11 September 2006 An intuitive view of the origin of orbital angular momentum in optical vortices

Sheng-Yanng Tseng, Long Hsu

Proceedings Volume 6326, Optical Trapping and Optical Micromanipulation III; 63261C (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.678904
Event: SPIE Optics + Photonics, 2006, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

A modulated laser beam by a phase pattern exp(ilθ) can be focused by an objective into a ring-like optical vortex, where l is a constant and θ is the azimuth angle. The vortex is capable of trapping the particles nearby and circulating them along the ring. This phenomenon is often explained involving Fourier optics and the transfer of orbital angular momentum (OAM). Although Fourier optics transforms the electric field distribution of the modulated laser beam behind the phase pattern to that of the vortex, it does not include both the path and OAM of the photons of the electromagnetic wave. Therefore, it is difficult to further trace the transfer of OAM from the photons to the particles in the vortex. In this paper, we propose a simple and intuitive view to the origin of optical vortex. By analyzing the relationship of the intensity distributions between the phase of the phase pattern and the intensity of the vortex by utilizing Fourier transform, we propose that the phenomenon of vortex also involve the transfer of linear momentum on the vortex plane transversely.

Citation Download Citation

Sheng-Yanng Tseng and Long Hsu "An intuitive view of the origin of orbital angular momentum in optical vortices", Proc. SPIE 6326, Optical Trapping and Optical Micromanipulation III, 63261C (11 September 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.678904

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available