Open AccessOrbital angular momentum transfer in helical Mathieu beams
Author(s) -
Carlos López-Mariscal,
Julio C. Gutiérrez-Vega,
Graham Milne,
Kishan Dholakia
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.14.004182
Subject(s) - physics , angular momentum , orbital angular momentum of light , angular momentum of light , optics , momentum transfer , drag , beam (structure) , transverse plane , rotation (mathematics) , total angular momentum quantum number , atomic physics , angular momentum coupling , classical mechanics , mechanics , scattering , geometry , mathematics , structural engineering , engineering
We observe the transfer of orbital angular momentum to trapped particles in the azimuthally asymmetric transverse intensity distribution of a helical Mathieu beam. The average rotation rate, instantaneous angular displacement and terminal velocity of the trapped particles are measured experimentally. The angular dependence of these parameters is found to be in good agreement with the variation of the optical gradient force, the transfer of OAM from the wavefield and the Stokes drag force.