Orbital angular momentum of light and the transformation of Laguerre-Gaussian laser modes
L Allen, MW Beijersbergen, RJC Spreeuw… - Physical review A, 1992 - APS
L Allen, MW Beijersbergen, RJC Spreeuw, JP Woerdman
Physical review A, 1992•APSLaser light with a Laguerre-Gaussian amplitude distribution is found to have a well-defined
orbital angular momentum. An astigmatic optical system may be used to transform a high-
order Laguerre-Gaussian mode into a high-order Hermite-Gaussian mode reversibly. An
experiment is proposed to measure the mechanical torque induced by the transfer of orbital
angular momentum associated with such a transformation.
orbital angular momentum. An astigmatic optical system may be used to transform a high-
order Laguerre-Gaussian mode into a high-order Hermite-Gaussian mode reversibly. An
experiment is proposed to measure the mechanical torque induced by the transfer of orbital
angular momentum associated with such a transformation.
Abstract
Laser light with a Laguerre-Gaussian amplitude distribution is found to have a well-defined orbital angular momentum. An astigmatic optical system may be used to transform a high-order Laguerre-Gaussian mode into a high-order Hermite-Gaussian mode reversibly. An experiment is proposed to measure the mechanical torque induced by the transfer of orbital angular momentum associated with such a transformation.