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Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Spectral and Angle-Resolved Magneto-Optical Characterization of Photonic Nanostructures
Published on: November 21, 2019
Coriolis effect in optics: unified geometric phase and spin-Hall effect
Konstantin Y Bliokh1, Yuri Gorodetski, Vladimir Kleiner
1Micro and Nanooptics Laboratory, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, and Russel Berrie Nanotechnology Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel.
Spin-orbit coupling in waves is explained by the Coriolis effect. A unified geometric phase unifies existing Berry phase theories, experimentally verified with electromagnetic waves and a spin-Hall effect.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Optics
- Condensed Matter Physics
Background:
- Wave-matter interactions can induce spin-orbit coupling.
- Berry phase describes geometric phase acquired by quantum states.
- Existing theories like spin redirection and Pancharatnam-Berry phases lack unification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To unify different Berry phase theories under a single framework.
- To explain spin-orbit coupling in waves interacting with a medium.
- To experimentally demonstrate the unified geometric phase.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis of Berry phase in a non-inertial reference frame.
- Development of a general expression for the geometric phase.
- Experimental demonstration using electromagnetic waves and surface plasmon nanostructures.
Main Results:
- The Berry phase is a manifestation of the Coriolis effect for waves.
- A unified expression for geometric phase is derived, encompassing previous theories.
- Experimental verification of the unified geometric phase via spin-Hall effect.
Conclusions:
- Spin-orbit coupling in waves can be universally described by a unified geometric phase.
- The Coriolis effect provides a physical interpretation for Berry phase in this context.
- The findings have implications for wave manipulation and nanophotonics.
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