Forces in Aharonov–Bohm optical setting

Sukhov, Sergey; Kajorndejnukul, Veerachart; Broky, John; Dogariu, Aristide

doi:10.1364/optica.1.000383

Cited by 8 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Note added in proof: After this work was accepted, two experimental papers [37,38] appeared, which confirm our theoretical findings. First, a weak helicity-dependent transverse force was detected in [37] for a Mie particle in interference of the orthogonal linear-and circularly-polarized plane waves. Although this force was interpreted there using "Aharonov-Bohm effect" arguments, it can be clearly explained as the force (16) proportional to the transverse imaginary part of the Poynting vector.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Transverse Spin and Momentum in Two-Wave Interference

2015

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We analyze the interference field formed by two electromagnetic plane waves (with the same frequency but different wave vectors), and find that such field reveals a rich and highly non-trivial structure of the local momentum and spin densities. Despite the seemingly-planar and extensively-studied character of the two-wave system, we find that it possesses a transverse (out-of-plane) helicity-independent spin density, and also a transverse polarization-dependent momentum density with unusual physical properties. The polarization-dependent transverse momentum represents the so-called Belinfante spin momentum, which does not exert the usual optical pressure and it is considered as 'virtual' in field theory. We perform analytical estimations and exact numerical simulations of the interaction of the two-wave field with probe Mie particles. The results of these calculations clearly indicate the straightforward detectability of the unusual spin and momentum properties in the two-wave field and strongly motivate their future experimental verifications.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Transverse Spin and Momentum in Two-Wave Interference

2015

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“…As the magnitude of wave's momentum is determined by the properties of medium it propagates through [ 11 ], this scattering asymmetry unbalances the transversal linear momentum. Consequently, a side force perpendicular to the original direction of propagation should act on the particle with a magnitude determined by its scattering phase-function [12]. In the present Letter, we further elaborate this idea analytically and confirm it by exact numerical calculations.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 61%

“…Notably, the spin momentum does not affect dipolar particles and it can be detected only in the presence of multipoles. In fact, it is this type of transversal force that was measured in our experiment on Aharonov-Bohm effect in optical setting for 2µm particles [12]. As opposed to the force emerging from the spin momentum, the transversal force described in this Letter would be preserved even if the reflected wave is eliminated by, for example, an antireflection coating at the interface.…”

Section: Single Dipole Near a Dielectric Interfacementioning

confidence: 58%

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Dynamic consequences of optical spin–orbit interaction

et al. 2015

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When circularly polarized wave scatters off a sphere, the scattered field forms a vortex with spiraling energy flow. This is due to the transformation of spin angular momentum into orbital one. Here we demonstrate that during this scattering an anomalous force can be induced that acts in a direction perpendicular to the propagation of incident wave. The appearance of this lateral force is made possible by the presence of an interface in the vicinity of scattering object. Besides radiation pressure and tractor-beam pulling forces, this lateral force is another type of non-conservative force that can be produced with unstructured light beams. I. INTRODUCTIONUpon interaction with matter, there is an exchange between the spin and the orbital parts of the momentum carried by an optical wave. This optical spin-orbit interaction is responsible for a number of wave polarization effects [1,2,3,4,5]. Moreover, the conservation of total momentum also involves momentum transfer to matter. When analyzing this conservation law, the symmetry of the field is a critical component. For instance, when the azimuthal symmetry of the field is preserved around an axis, the projection of the total angular momentum along that axis is conserved according to Noether's theorem. As a result, the mechanical action on matter is along this axis of symmetry. When the rotational symmetry is broken as a result of interaction, the direction of the mechanical action is affected in order to obey the conservation of canonical momentum.

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“…We note that the presence of a tangible light source is not a prerequisite to lateral electromagnetic forces, as recently demonstrated in the case of a rotating particle near a planar surface experiencing lateral Casimir effects [20]. Other situations where lateral forces appear have been proposed using purely optical schemes, by placing a spinning particle in the course of a light beam [21,22], or placing a particle in a inhomogeneous light field resulting two-wave interferences [23][24][25] or tightly focused vector beams [26]. Finally, we also mention many theoretical efforts to deploy spin-dependent lateral forces towards sorting material chirality by chiral light [27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] soon after first experimental demonstrations restricted to the use of longitudinal forces [36,37].…”

mentioning

confidence: 59%