Orbital angular momentum of photons, atoms, and electrons

Franke-Arnold, S. , Gluckstad, J., Andrews, D.L. and Galvez, E.J. (2013) Orbital angular momentum of photons, atoms, and electrons. In: SPIE OPTO 2013, San Francisco, California, United States, 2-7 February 2013, (doi: 10.1117/12.2002984)

Abstract

The orbital angular momentum of light, and also of waves beyond the electromagnetic spectrum, is a powerful concept in all systems with cylindrical or rotational symmetry. Expressing quantum images in terms of orbital angular momentum modes allows one to describe image rotations in terms of OAM dependent phase shifts. We discuss image rotations, and in particular Faraday rotations in optical systems, and predict a Faraday rotation for electron vortices. Our considerations highlight connections between orbital angular momentum features in different systems, in particular between image rotations in optical and electron systems, and also between parametric processes in parametric down-conversion and atomic cascades. We compare the phasematching conditions of the two latter systems and demonstrate the efficient transfer of OAM modes and their superpositions from near-infrared pump light to blue light in a four-wave mixing process in rubidium vapour.

• Item Type: Conference Proceedings
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Franke-Arnold, Professor Sonja
• Authors: Franke-Arnold, S., Gluckstad, J., Andrews, D.L., and Galvez, E.J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy