Inverse Faraday Effect with Linearly Polarized Laser Pulses

Journal Article · Fri Jul 16 04:00:00 EDT 2010 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.105.035001· OSTI ID:21410919

Ali, S ^[1]; Davies, J R; Mendonca, J T ^[2]

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1. Instituto de Plasmas e Fusao Nuclear--Laboratorio Associado, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Avenida Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa (Portugal)
2. Instituto de Plasmas e Fusao Nuclear-Laboratorio Associado, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Avenida Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa (Portugal)

The inverse Faraday effect is usually associated with circularly polarized radiation; here, we show that it can also occur for linearly polarized radiation. The quasistatic axial magnetic field generated by a laser propagating in plasma can be calculated by considering both the spin and the orbital angular momenta of the laser pulse. A net spin is present when the radiation is circularly polarized and a net orbital angular momentum is present if there is any deviation from perfect rotational symmetry. The orbital angular momentum gives an additional contribution to the axial magnetic field that can enhance or reduce the effect usually attributed to circular polarization and strongly depends on the intensity profile of the Laguerre-Gaussian modes involving the azimuthal and radial mode numbers.

• OSTI ID: 21410919
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 105; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FARADAY EFFECT
LASER RADIATION
LASERS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
ORBITAL ANGULAR MOMENTUM
PARTICLE PROPERTIES
PLASMA
POLARIZATION
PULSES
RADIATIONS
SPIN
SYMMETRY