Laser-induced radial birefringence and spin-to-orbital optical angular momentum conversion in silver-doped glasses

Journal Article · Mon Jul 04 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3610474· OSTI ID:22027665

Amjad, Jafar Mostafavi; Khalesifard, Hamid Reza ^[1]; Slussarenko, Sergei; Karimi, Ebrahim; Santamato, Enrico ^[2]; Marrucci, Lorenzo ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics, Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS), 45137-66731 Zanjan (Iran, Islamic Republic of)
2. Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, Universita di Napoli ''Federico II'', Complesso Universitario di Monte S. Angelo, 80126 Napoli (Italy)

Samples of Ag{sup +}/Na{sup +} ion-exchanged glass that have been subject to intense laser irradiation may develop novel optical properties, as a consequence of the formation of patterns of silver nanoparticles and other structures. Here, we report the observation of a laser-induced permanent transverse birefringence, with the optical axis forming a radial pattern, as revealed by the spin-to-orbital angular momentum conversion occurring in a probe light beam. The birefringence pattern can be modeled well as resulting from thermally-induced stresses arising in the silver-doped glass during laser exposure, although the actual mechanism leading to the permanent anisotropy is probably more complex.

• OSTI ID: 22027665
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 99, Issue 1; Other Information: (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
ANISOTROPY
BIREFRINGENCE
CONVERSION
DOPED MATERIALS
GLASS
ION EXCHANGE
LASER RADIATION
NANOSTRUCTURES
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
ORBITAL ANGULAR MOMENTUM
PARTICLES
SILVER
SILVER IONS
SODIUM IONS
SPIN
STRESSES
VISIBLE RADIATION