Laguerre–Gaussian beams with vortex structure, as a special type of electromagnetic wave, can carry energy, momentum, and angular momentum, which is crucial for understanding of dynamical processes concerning light–matter interaction phenomena. In this paper, we theoretically investigate the local dynamical characteristics of Laguerre–Gaussian vortex beams upon reflection and refraction. Using a hybrid method based on the angular spectrum representation and vector potential in the Lorenz gauge, the explicit analytical expressions for the electric and magnetic field components of reflected and refracted Laguerre–Gaussian beams are derived in the form of a Hermite polynomial. A canonical approach is utilized to examine the energy, momentum, and spin and orbital angular momentum of the Laguerre–Gaussian vortex beams’ reflection and refraction at a plane interface between air and BK7 glass. The effects of the incidence angle, topological charge, and polarization state on these dynamical quantities are simulated and discussed in detail. This study may provide useful insights into the interactions of vortex beams with matter and their further applications.

Hermite–Gaussian beams, as a typical kind of higher-order mode laser beams, have attracted intensive attention because of their interesting properties and potential applications. In this paper, a full vector wave analysis of the higher-order Hermite–Gaussian beams upon reflection and refraction is reported. The explicit analytical expressions for the electric and magnetic field components of the reflected and refracted Hermite–Gaussian beams are derived with the aid of angular spectrum representation and vector potential in the Lorenz gauge. Based on the derived analytical expressions, local field distributions of higher-order Hermite–Gaussian beams reflection and refraction at a plane interface between air and BK7 glass are displayed and analyzed.

Chirality plays an important role in understanding of the chiral light-matter interaction. In this work, we study theoretically and numerically the chirality of optical vortex beams reflected from an air-chiral medium interface. A theoretical model that takes into full account the vectorial nature of electromagnetic fields is developed to describe the reflection of optical vortex beams at an interface between air and a chiral medium. Some numerical simulations are performed and discussed. The results show that the chirality of the reflected vortex beams can be well controlled by the relative chiral parameter of the medium and is significantly affected by the incidence angle, topological charge, and polarization state of the incident beam. Our results provide new, to the best of our knowledge, insights into the interactions between optical vortex beams with chiral matter, and may have potential application in optical chirality manipulation.

No abstract

Structured light beams with distinct spatial inhomogeneity of amplitude, phase, and polarization have garnered tremendous attention in recent years. A better understanding of the vectorial structure of such beams is helpful to reveal their important and interesting features for further applications. In this paper, explicit analytical expressions for the electric field components of typical spatial-structured light beams, including fundamental Gaussian beams, Hermite–Gaussian beams, Laguerre–Gaussian beams, Bessel/Bessel–Gaussian beams, and Airy beams, beyond the paraxial approximation are derived on the basis of the vectorial Rayleigh–Sommerfeld diffraction integrals. Compared with the existing expressions in the literature, the expressions given in this paper are very concise. Using the derived analytical expressions, distributions of the electric field components of these typical structured light beams are displayed and analyzed.