The angular momentum of twisted light in anisotropic media: chiroptical interactions in chiral and achiral materials

Kayn A. Forbes; David L. Andrews

doi:10.1117/12.2305723

4 May 2018 The angular momentum of twisted light in anisotropic media: chiroptical interactions in chiral and achiral materials

Kayn A. Forbes, David L. Andrews

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 10672, Nanophotonics VII; 1067210 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2305723
Event: SPIE Photonics Europe, 2018, Strasbourg, France

Abstract

The issue of whether the optical orbital angular momentum of light can play any significant role in chiroptical interactions has seen a resurgence of interest in the past few years. Revising preliminary expectations, it has been shown both theoretically and experimentally that the topological charge can indeed play a decisive role in some chiroptical interactions, with the rates of these optical phenomena proving sensitive to the sign of the vortex charge ℓ. Using quantum electrodynamics, it is now revealed how the inclusion of molecular electric-quadrupole transition moments in both chiral and achiral anisotropic media produces such an effect. Specifically, for single-photon absorption it transpires that both the orbital and spin angular momentum must be engaged through a circularly polarized vortex beam. The chiroptical effect is identified as a manifestation spin-orbit interaction in light.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Kayn A. Forbes and David L. Andrews "The angular momentum of twisted light in anisotropic media: chiroptical interactions in chiral and achiral materials", Proc. SPIE 10672, Nanophotonics VII, 1067210 (4 May 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2305723

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available