Photonic Angular Momentum in Intense Light–Matter Interactions
Light contains both spin and orbital angular momentum. Despite contributing equally to the total photonic angular momentum, these components derive from quite different parts of the electromagnetic field profile, namely its polarization and spatial variation, respectively, and therefore do not alway...
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MDPI AG
2024-09-01
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| Series: | Photonics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/11/9/871 |
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| author | Alex Schimmoller Spencer Walker Alexandra S. Landsman |
| author_facet | Alex Schimmoller Spencer Walker Alexandra S. Landsman |
| author_sort | Alex Schimmoller |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Light contains both spin and orbital angular momentum. Despite contributing equally to the total photonic angular momentum, these components derive from quite different parts of the electromagnetic field profile, namely its polarization and spatial variation, respectively, and therefore do not always share equal influence in light–matter interactions. With the growing interest in utilizing light’s orbital angular momentum to practice added control in the study of atomic systems, it becomes increasingly important for students and researchers to understand the subtlety involved in these interactions. In this article, we present a review of the fundamental concepts and recent experiments related to the interaction of beams containing orbital angular momentum with atoms. An emphasis is placed on understanding light’s angular momentum from the perspective of both classical waves and individual photons. We then review the application of these beams in recent experiments, namely single- and few-photon transitions, strong-field ionization, and high-harmonic generation, highlighting the role of light’s orbital angular momentum and the atom’s location within the beam profile within each case. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3a73b2837649402f815240fbdcd31c43 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2304-6732 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Photonics |
| spelling | doaj-art-3a73b2837649402f815240fbdcd31c432025-08-20T01:55:46ZengMDPI AGPhotonics2304-67322024-09-0111987110.3390/photonics11090871Photonic Angular Momentum in Intense Light–Matter InteractionsAlex Schimmoller0Spencer Walker1Alexandra S. Landsman2Department of Physics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USADepartment of Physics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USADepartment of Physics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USALight contains both spin and orbital angular momentum. Despite contributing equally to the total photonic angular momentum, these components derive from quite different parts of the electromagnetic field profile, namely its polarization and spatial variation, respectively, and therefore do not always share equal influence in light–matter interactions. With the growing interest in utilizing light’s orbital angular momentum to practice added control in the study of atomic systems, it becomes increasingly important for students and researchers to understand the subtlety involved in these interactions. In this article, we present a review of the fundamental concepts and recent experiments related to the interaction of beams containing orbital angular momentum with atoms. An emphasis is placed on understanding light’s angular momentum from the perspective of both classical waves and individual photons. We then review the application of these beams in recent experiments, namely single- and few-photon transitions, strong-field ionization, and high-harmonic generation, highlighting the role of light’s orbital angular momentum and the atom’s location within the beam profile within each case.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/11/9/871vortex beamsorbital angular momentum of lightfew-photon ionizationstrong-field physicshigh-harmonic generation |
| spellingShingle | Alex Schimmoller Spencer Walker Alexandra S. Landsman Photonic Angular Momentum in Intense Light–Matter Interactions Photonics vortex beams orbital angular momentum of light few-photon ionization strong-field physics high-harmonic generation |
| title | Photonic Angular Momentum in Intense Light–Matter Interactions |
| title_full | Photonic Angular Momentum in Intense Light–Matter Interactions |
| title_fullStr | Photonic Angular Momentum in Intense Light–Matter Interactions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Photonic Angular Momentum in Intense Light–Matter Interactions |
| title_short | Photonic Angular Momentum in Intense Light–Matter Interactions |
| title_sort | photonic angular momentum in intense light matter interactions |
| topic | vortex beams orbital angular momentum of light few-photon ionization strong-field physics high-harmonic generation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/11/9/871 |
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