Direct Observation of Transfer of Angular Momentum to Absorptive Particles from a Laser Beam with a Phase Singularity

H. He, M. E. J. Friese, N. R. Heckenberg, and H. Rubinsztein-Dunlop
Phys. Rev. Lett. 75, 826 – Published 31 July 1995
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Abstract

Black or reflective particles can be trapped in the dark central minimum of a doughnut laser beam produced using a high efficiency computer generated hologram. Such beams carry angular momentum due to the helical wave-front structure associated with the central phase singularity even when linearly polarized. Trapped absorptive particles spin due to absorption of this angular momentum transferred from the singularity beam. The direction of spin can be reversed by changing the sign of the singularity.

  • Received 28 November 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.75.826

©1995 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

H. He, M. E. J. Friese, N. R. Heckenberg, and H. Rubinsztein-Dunlop

  • Department of Physics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Q4072

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Issue

Vol. 75, Iss. 5 — 31 July 1995

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