Observation of the transfer of the local angular momentum density of a multiringed light beam to an optically trapped particle

Garces-Chavez, V., McGloin, D., Padgett, M. , Dultz, W., Schmitzer, H. and Dholakia, K. (2003) Observation of the transfer of the local angular momentum density of a multiringed light beam to an optically trapped particle. Physical Review Letters, 91(9), 093602. (doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.91.093602)

Abstract

We observe the spinning and orbital motion of a microscopic particle trapped within a multiringed light beam that arises from the transfer of the spin and orbital components of the light's angular momentum. The two rotation rates are measured as a function of the distance between the particle and the axis of the trapping beam. The radial dependence of these observations is found to be in close agreement with the accepted theory.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Padgett, Professor Miles
• Authors: Garces-Chavez, V., McGloin, D., Padgett, M., Dultz, W., Schmitzer, H., and Dholakia, K.
• Subjects: Q Science > QC Physics
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• Journal Name: Physical Review Letters
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• ISSN: 0031-9007
• ISSN (Online): 1079-7114