N. D. Kundikova

Bio: N. D. Kundikova is an academic researcher from South Ural State University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Polarization (waves) & Circular polarization. The author has an hindex of 10, co-authored 46 publications receiving 384 citations. Previous affiliations of N. D. Kundikova include Chelyabinsk State University & Russian Academy of Sciences.

Optical Magnus effect.

Abstract: It is predicted theoretically and registered experimentally that the speckle pattern of a laser beam transmitted through a multimode fiber undergoes an angular shift from the switching of the chirality of the polarization. The effect may be considered as the result of the spin-orbit interaction for the photon in the inhomogeneous medium.

Influence of the helical shape of a fibre waveguide on the propagation of light

Abstract: A study is reported of the influence of twisting a fibre waveguide into a helix on the speckle pattern of light transmitted by the fibre when the pitch of the helix was altered. Rotation of the speckle pattern was discovered. This rotation was numerically equal to the change in the solid angle formed on a unit sphere in the space of the tangents to the fibre.

Adjustable half-wave plate

Abstract: An adjustable construction of a half-wave plate is described. The device consists of three birefringent plates with arbitrary thicknesses. Owing to the variable angles between the optical axes of these plates, it could be easily adjusted to a different wavelength of laser radiation.

Spin-orbit interactions of light

Abstract: This Review article provides an overview of the fundamental origins and important applications of the main spin–orbit interaction phenomena in modern optics that play a crucial role at subwavelength scales. Light carries both spin and orbital angular momentum. These dynamical properties are determined by the polarization and spatial degrees of freedom of light. Nano-optics, photonics and plasmonics tend to explore subwavelength scales and additional degrees of freedom of structured — that is, spatially inhomogeneous — optical fields. In such fields, spin and orbital properties become strongly coupled with each other. In this Review we cover the fundamental origins and important applications of the main spin–orbit interaction phenomena in optics. These include: spin-Hall effects in inhomogeneous media and at optical interfaces, spin-dependent effects in nonparaxial (focused or scattered) fields, spin-controlled shaping of light using anisotropic structured interfaces (metasurfaces) and robust spin-directional coupling via evanescent near fields. We show that spin–orbit interactions are inherent in all basic optical processes, and that they play a crucial role in modern optics.

Observation of the Spin Hall Effect of Light via Weak Measurements

Abstract: We have detected a spin-dependent displacement perpendicular to the refractive index gradient for photons passing through an air-glass interface. The effect is the photonic version of the spin Hall effect in electronic systems, indicating the universality of the effect for particles of different nature. Treating the effect as a weak measurement of the spin projection of the photons, we used a preselection and postselection technique on the spin state to enhance the original displacement by nearly four orders of magnitude, attaining sensitivity to displacements of ∼1 angstrom. The spin Hall effect can be used for manipulating photonic angular momentum states, and the measurement technique holds promise for precision metrology.

Chapter 4 - Singular optics

Abstract: Singular optics is a branch of modern physical optics that involves a wide class of effects associated with the phase singularities in wave fields and with the topology of wave fronts. Optical singularities (optical vortices) exhibit some fundamental features absent in the "usual" fields with smooth wave fronts. Namely, optical vortices possess orbital angular momentum, topological charge for helical wave front of beams with well-defined direction of propagation. As a result, an interesting spatial evolution can be generated such as optical vortices "nucleation" and "annihilation" by pairs with participation of phase saddles, often called "optical chemistry." To study the structure of the circular edge dislocation, an isolated dark (zero-amplitude) ring is created within a light beam, with an analytical description of the field. A screw wave-front dislocation has a feature that the spatial structure of the wave front has the form of a helicoid around the dislocation axis. The chapter also describes reflection, refraction, interference and diffraction of OVs. Both frequency up- and down-conversion processes possess essential peculiarities for light beams with OVs. The chapter discusses the topology of wave fronts and vortex trajectories. Gouy phase shift in singular optics is also described in the chapter.