Self-bound droplets of light with orbital angular momentum

Westerberg, N. , Wilson, K. E., Duncan, C. W., Faccio, D. , Wright, E. M., Öhberg, P. and Valiente, M. (2018) Self-bound droplets of light with orbital angular momentum. Physical Review A: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, 98(5), 053835. (doi: 10.1103/PhysRevA.98.053835)

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Abstract

Systems with competing attractive and repulsive interactions have a tendency to condense into droplets. This is the case for water in a sink, liquid helium, and dipolar atomic gases. Here we consider a photon fluid which is formed in the transverse plane of a monochromatic laser beam propagating in an attractive (focusing) nonlocal nonlinear medium. In this setting we demonstrate the formation of the optical analog of matter-wave droplets and study their properties. The system we consider admits droplets that carry orbital angular momentum. We find bound states possessing liquidlike properties, such as bulk pressure and compressibility. Interestingly, these droplets of light, as opposed to optical vortices, form due to the competition between long-range s -wave (monopole) and d -wave (quadrupole) interactions as well as diffraction.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Faccio, Professor Daniele and Westerberg, Dr Niclas
Authors: Westerberg, N., Wilson, K. E., Duncan, C. W., Faccio, D., Wright, E. M., Öhberg, P., and Valiente, M.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
Journal Name:Physical Review A: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Publisher:American Physical Society
ISSN:1050-2947
ISSN (Online):1094-1622
Published Online:21 November 2018
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2018 American Physical Society
First Published:First published in Physical Review A: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics 98(5): 053835
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy
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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
303021Black Hole Superradiance in Rotating Fluids (SURF)Daniele FaccioEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)EP/P006078/2P&S - Physics & Astronomy