Magnetic-field-induced rotation of light with orbital angular momentum

Journal Article · Mon Jun 29 04:00:00 EDT 2015 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4923446· OSTI ID:22483111

Shi, Shuai; Ding, Dong-Sheng; Zhou, Zhi-Yuan; Li, Yan; Zhang, Wei; Shi, Bao-Sen ^[1]

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1. Key Laboratory of Quantum Information, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026 (China)

Light carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) has attractive applications in the fields of precise optical measurements and high capacity optical communications. We study the rotation of a light beam propagating in warm {sup 87}Rb atomic vapor using a method based on magnetic-field-induced circular birefringence. The dependence of the rotation angle on the magnetic field makes it appropriate for weak magnetic field measurements. We quote a detailed theoretical description that agrees well with the experimental observations. The experiment shown here provides a method to measure the magnetic field intensity precisely and expands the application of OAM-carrying light. This technique has advantage in measurement of magnetic field weaker than 0.5 G, and the precision we achieved is 0.8 mG.

• OSTI ID: 22483111
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 26 Vol. 106; ISSN APPLAB; ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCURACY
BEAMS
BIREFRINGENCE
CAPACITY
MAGNETIC FIELDS
ORBITAL ANGULAR MOMENTUM
RUBIDIUM 87
VAPORS