Spiraling light: Generating optical tornados

Dimitris Mansour, Apostolos Brimis, Konstantinos G. Makris, and Dimitris G. Papazoglou
Phys. Rev. A 105, 053514 – Published 16 May 2022

Abstract

We experimentally generate optical tornado waves using spatial multiplexing on a single-phase modulation device. In their focal region, the intensity pattern outlines a spiral of decreasing radius and pitch. We examine the propagation dynamics of such novel waves and reveal the key factors that lead to angular acceleration. Moreover, we propose a two-color scheme that makes it possible to generate dynamically twisting light, an optical analog of a drill, that can rotate at THz frequencies.

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  • Received 8 June 2021
  • Revised 30 April 2022
  • Accepted 3 May 2022

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.105.053514

©2022 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Atomic, Molecular & Optical

Authors & Affiliations

Dimitris Mansour1,2, Apostolos Brimis1,3, Konstantinos G. Makris1,3, and Dimitris G. Papazoglou1,2,*

  • 1Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), P.O. Box 1527, 71110 Heraklion, Greece
  • 2Department of Materials Science and Technology, University of Crete, P.O. Box 2208, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
  • 3ITCP, Department of Physics, University of Crete, 70013 Heraklion, Greece

  • *Corresponding author: dpapa@materials.uoc.gr

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Issue

Vol. 105, Iss. 5 — May 2022

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