Constructive spin-orbital angular momentum coupling can twist materials to create spiral structures in optical vortex illumination
- Graduate School of Engineering, Utsunomiya University, Utsunomiya 321-8585 (Japan)
- Graduate School of Advanced Integration Science, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522 (Japan)
- Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578 (Japan)
It was discovered that optical vortices twist isotropic and homogenous materials, e.g., azo-polymer films to form spiral structures on a nano- or micro-scale. However, the formation mechanism has not yet been established theoretically. To understand the mechanism of the spiral surface relief formation in the azo-polymer film, we theoretically investigate the optical radiation force induced in an isotropic and homogeneous material under irradiation using a continuous-wave optical vortex with arbitrary topological charge and polarization. It is revealed that the spiral surface relief formation in azo-polymer films requires the irradiation of optical vortices with a positive (negative) spin angular momentum and a positive (negative) orbital angular momentum (constructive spin-orbital angular momentum coupling), i.e., the degeneracy among the optical vortices with the same total angular momentum is resolved.
- OSTI ID:
- 22489389
- Journal Information:
- Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 108, Issue 5; Other Information: (c) 2016 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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