Open AccessHuge transverse deformation in nonspecular reflection of a light beam possessing orbital angular momentum near critical incidence
Author(s) -
Hiroshi Okuda,
Hiroyuki Sasada
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.14.008393
Subject(s) - physics , optics , beam (structure) , transverse plane , angular momentum , light beam , intensity (physics) , deformation (meteorology) , atomic physics , classical mechanics , structural engineering , engineering , meteorology
We derive a general expression for the field distribution of Hermite- and Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) beams reflected at a dielectric interface. The intensity distributions of the reflected LG light beam at the beam waist are also observed experimentally in the vicinity of the critical incidence. They are greatly deformed because of the nonspecular transverse shift induced by the orbital angular momentum of the LG beam. The observed and calculated intensity distributions agree well and indicate that a large fraction of the electromagnetic energy flows as much as the transverse beam size.