Angular momentum redirection phase of vector beams in a non-planar geometry

McWilliam, A., Cisowski, C. M., Bennett, R. and Franke-Arnold, S. (2022) Angular momentum redirection phase of vector beams in a non-planar geometry. Nanophotonics, 11(4), pp. 727-736. (doi: 10.1515/nanoph-2021-0528)

Abstract

An electric field propagating along a non-planar path can acquire geometric phases. Previously, geometric phases have been linked to spin redirection and independently to spatial mode transformation, resulting in the rotation of polarisation and intensity profiles, respectively. We investigate the non-planar propagation of scalar and vector light fields and demonstrate that polarisation and intensity profiles rotate by the same angle. The geometric phase acquired is proportional to j = ℓ + σ, where ℓ is the topological charge and σ is the helicity. Radial and azimuthally polarised beams with j = 0 are eigenmodes of the system and are not affected by the geometric path. The effects considered here are relevant for systems relying on photonic spin Hall effects, polarisation and vector microscopy, as well as topological optics in communication systems.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: Research funding: A.M. acknowledges financial support from the UK Research and Innovation Council via grant EPSRC/DTP 2020/21/EP/T517896/1. C.M.C. and S.F.-A. acknowledges financial support from the Royal Society through an International Newton fellowship NIF/R1/192384.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Bennett, Dr Robert and Franke-Arnold, Professor Sonja and McWilliam, Ms Amy and Cisowski, Dr Claire Marie
• Authors: McWilliam, A., Cisowski, C. M., Bennett, R., and Franke-Arnold, S.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• Journal Name: Nanophotonics
• Publisher: De Gruyter
• ISSN: 2192-8606
• ISSN (Online): 2192-8614
• Published Online: 15 November 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 Amy McWilliam et al
• First Published: First published in Nanophotonics 11(4): 727-736
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
312561		EPSRC DTP 2020/21	Christopher Pearce	Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)	EP/T517896/1	Research and Innovation Services