Photons, phonons, and plasmons with orbital angular momentum in plasmas

Journal Article · 05 February 2017 · Scientific Reports

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/srep41731 · OSTI ID:1350537

Chen, Qiang ^[1]; Qin, Hong  ^[2]; Liu, Jian ^[3]

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1. Univ. of Science and Technology of China, Anhui (China); Luoyang Electronic Equipment Testing Center, Luoyang (China)
2. Univ. of Science and Technology of China, Anhui (China); Princeton Univ., Princeton, NJ (United States)
3. Univ. of Science and Technology of China, Anhui (China)

Exact eigen modes with orbital angular momentum (OAM) in the complex media of unmagnetized homogeneous plasmas are studied. Three exact eigen modes with OAM are derived, i.e., photons, phonons, and plasmons. The OAM of different plasma components are closely related to the charge polarities. For photons, the OAM of electrons and ions are of the same magnitude but opposite direction, and the total OAM is carried by the field. For the phonons and plasmons, their OAM are carried by the electrons and ions. Lastly, the OAM modes in plasmas and their characteristics can be explored for potential applications in plasma physics and accelerator physics.

• Research Organization: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Contributing Organization: School of Nuclear Science and Technology and Department of Modern Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
• OSTI ID: 1350537
• Journal Information: Scientific Reports, Journal Name: Scientific Reports Vol. 7; ISSN 2045-2322
• Publisher: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English