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Journal ArticleDOI

Polarization of light and topological phases

01 Mar 1997-Physics Reports (North-Holland)-Vol. 281, Iss: 1, pp 1-64
TL;DR: In this article, a survey and analysis of recent work on topological phases with polarization of light is presented, which has revealed several counterintuitive features of such phase shifts such as 2 nπ anholonomies, nonlinear and discontinuous behaviour originating from high singularities, peculiar spectral dependence, etc.
About: This article is published in Physics Reports.The article was published on 1997-03-01. It has received 256 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Polarization (waves) & Quantum decoherence.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An optical process in which the spin angular momentum carried by a circularly polarized light beam is converted into orbital angular momentum, leading to the generation of helical modes with a wave-front helicity controlled by the input polarization is demonstrated.
Abstract: We demonstrate experimentally an optical process in which the spin angular momentum carried by a circularly polarized light beam is converted into orbital angular momentum, leading to the generation of helical modes with a wave-front helicity controlled by the input polarization. This phenomenon requires the interaction of light with matter that is both optically inhomogeneous and anisotropic. The underlying physics is also associated with the so-called Pancharatnam-Berry geometrical phases involved in any inhomogeneous transformation of the optical polarization.

1,725 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide 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, including spin-Hall effects in inhomogeneous media and at optical interfaces, spindependent effects in non-paraxial (focused or scattered) fields, spin-controlled shaping of light using anisotropic structured interfaces (metasurfaces).
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.

1,642 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Karimi et al. as mentioned in this paper showed that a plasmonic metasurface comprising an array of nano-antennas can couple spin-to-orbital angular momentum at thickness much smaller than the wavelength of the light with an efficiency of around 3%.
Abstract: Visible, circularly polarised light can be transformed into light-carrying orbital angular momentum by a plasmonic metasurface. That is the finding of Ebrahim Karimi and co-workers at the University of Ottawa in Canada and the University of Rochester in the United States. Light with orbital angular momentum (owing to a twisted phase front) is traditionally generated using specially designed optical elements such as spatial light modulator, cylindrical lens mode converters and q-plate. The researchers have now shown that a plasmonic metasurface comprising an array of nano-antennas can couple spin-to-orbital angular momentum at thickness much smaller than the wavelength of the light with an efficiency of around 3%. The conversion takes place due to the birefringence present in the nanostructure array. This approach could yield ultrathin generators of visible light with orbital angular momentum, for potential applications in spectroscopy, imaging, sensing and quantum information.

730 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A theoretical analysis and experimentally demonstrate a Pancharatnam-Berry phase-based diffraction grating for laser radiation at a wavelength of 10.6microm.
Abstract: Space-variant Pancharatnam-Berry phase optical elements based on computer-generated subwavelength gratings are presented. By continuously controlling the local orientation and period of the grating we can achieve any desired phase element. We present a theoretical analysis and experimentally demonstrate a Pancharatnam-Berry phase-based diffraction grating for laser radiation at a wavelength of 10.6microm.

664 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors review the development of the q-plate idea and some of the most significant results that have originated from it, and briefly touch on many other related findings concerning the interaction of the spin and orbital angular momentum of light.
Abstract: A few years ago the possibility of coupling and inter-converting the spin and orbital angular momentum (SAM and OAM) of paraxial light beams in inhomogeneous anisotropic media was demonstrated. An important case is provided by waveplates having a singular transverse pattern of the birefringent optical axis, with a topological singularity of charge q at the plate center, hence named 'q-plates'. The introduction of q-plates has given rise in recent years to a number of new results and to significant progress in the field of orbital angular momentum of light. Particularly promising are the quantum photonic applications, because the polarization control of OAM allows the transfer of quantum information from the SAM qubit space to an OAM subspace of a photon and vice versa. In this paper, we review the development of the q-plate idea and some of the most significant results that have originated from it, and we will briefly touch on many other related findings concerning the interaction of the SAM and OAM of light.

480 citations


Cites methods from "Polarization of light and topologic..."

  • ...In 2002, following an original idea by Bhandari [20], the group of Hasman in Technion University reported the use of patterned subwavelength diffraction gratings for reshaping the wavefront of an electromagnetic wave, so as to obtain various...

    [...]

  • ...In 2002, following an original idea by Bhandari [20], the group of Hasman in Technion University reported the use of patterned subwavelength diffraction gratings for reshaping the wavefront of an electromagnetic wave, so as to obtain various wavefronts, including helical beams [21, 22]....

    [...]

References
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Book
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20,079 citations

Book
01 Jan 1959
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss various topics about optics, such as geometrical theories, image forming instruments, and optics of metals and crystals, including interference, interferometers, and diffraction.
Abstract: The book is comprised of 15 chapters that discuss various topics about optics, such as geometrical theories, image forming instruments, and optics of metals and crystals. The text covers the elements of the theories of interference, interferometers, and diffraction. The book tackles several behaviors of light, including its diffraction when exposed to ultrasonic waves.

19,815 citations

01 Oct 1999
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss various topics about optics, such as geometrical theories, image forming instruments, and optics of metals and crystals, including interference, interferometers, and diffraction.
Abstract: The book is comprised of 15 chapters that discuss various topics about optics, such as geometrical theories, image forming instruments, and optics of metals and crystals. The text covers the elements of the theories of interference, interferometers, and diffraction. The book tackles several behaviors of light, including its diffraction when exposed to ultrasonic waves.

19,503 citations

Book
01 Feb 1974
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors define an order parameter statistical theories of the nematic order phenomonological description of the nematic-isotopic mixtures and describe the properties of these mixtures.
Abstract: Part 1 Liquid crystals - main types and properties: introduction - what is a liquid crystal? the building blocks nematics and cholesterics smectics columnar phases more on long-, quasi-long and short-range order remarkable features of liquid crystals. Part 2 Long- and short-range order in nematics: definition of an order parameter statistical theories of the nematic order phenomonological description of the nematic-isotopic mixtures. Part 3 Static distortion in a nematic single crystal: principles of the continuum theory magnetic field effects electric field effects in an insulating nematic fluctuations in the alignment hydrostatics of nematics. Part 4 Defects and textures in nematics: observations disclination lines point disclinations walls under magnetic fields umbilics surface disclinations. Part 5 Dynamical properties of nematics: the equations of "nematodynamics" experiments measuring the Leslie co-efficients convective instabilities under electric fields molecular motions. Part 6 Cholesterics: optical properties of an ideal helix agents influencing the pitch dynamical properties textures and defects in cholesterics. Part 7 Smectics: symmetry of the main smectic phases continuum description of smectics A and C remarks on phase and precritical phenomena.

9,683 citations

Book
01 Jan 1977
TL;DR: In this article, the polarization of light waves and propagation of polarized light through polarizing optical systems are discussed. But the authors focus on the application of ellipsometry in the field of measurement in ellipsometer systems.
Abstract: Preface. 1. The polarization of light waves. 2. Propagation of polarized light through polarizing optical systems. 3. Theory and analysis of measurements in ellipsometer systems. 4. Reflection and transmission of polarized light by stratified planar structures. 5. Instrumentation and techniques of ellipsometry. 6. Applications of ellipsometry. Appendix. Author index. Subject index.

4,634 citations