Arbitrary spin-to-orbital angular momentum conversion of light

作者：Devlin, Robert C.; Ambrosio, Antonio; Rubin, Noah A.; Mueller, J. P. Balthasar; Capasso, Federico^*

来源：Science, 2017, 358(6365): 896-900.

DOI：10.1126/science.aao5392

• DIELECTRIC METASURFACES
• LASER-BEAMS
• RESOLUTION
• PHASE
• DISLOCATIONS
• ENTANGLEMENT
• TRANSMISSION

Optical elements that convert the spin angular momentum (SAM) of light into vortex beams have found applications in classical and quantum optics. These elements-SAM-toorbital angular momentum (OAM) converters-are based on the geometric phase and only permit the conversion of left-and right-circular polarizations (spin states) into states with opposite OAM. We present a method for converting arbitrary SAM states into total angular momentum states characterized by a superposition of independent OAM. We designed a metasurface that converts left-and right-circular polarizations into states with independent values of OAM and designed another device that performs this operation for elliptically polarized states. These results illustrate a general material-mediated connection between SAM and OAM of light and may find applications in producing complex structured light and in optical communication.

• 出版日期2017-11-17