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Related Concept Videos

Angular Momentum01:21

Angular Momentum

Angular momentum characterizes an object's rotational motion and is defined as the moment of its linear momentum about a specified point O. When a particle moves along a curved path in the x-y plane, the scalar formulation calculates the magnitude of its angular momentum, utilizing the moment arm (d), representing the perpendicular distance from point O to the line of action of the linear momentum. Despite being scalar in formulation, angular momentum is inherently a vector quantity. Its...
Conservation of Angular Momentum01:09

Conservation of Angular Momentum

A system's total angular momentum remains constant if the net external torque acting on the system is zero. Considering a system that consists of n tiny particles, the angular momentum of any tiny particle may change, but the system's total angular momentum would remain constant. The principle of conservation of angular momentum only considers the net external torque acting on the system. While there are internal forces exerted by different particles within the system that also produce internal...
Conservation of Angular Momentum: Application01:18

Conservation of Angular Momentum: Application

A system's total angular momentum remains constant if the net external torque acting on the system is zero. Examples of such systems include a freely spinning bicycle tire that slows over time due to torque arising from friction, or the slowing of Earth's rotation over millions of years due to frictional forces exerted on tidal deformations. However in the absence of a net external torque, the angular momentum remains conserved. The conservation of angular momentum principle requires a change...
Angular Momentum: Single Particle01:10

Angular Momentum: Single Particle

Angular momentum is directed perpendicular to the plane of the rotation, and its magnitude depends on the choice of the origin. The perpendicular vector joining the linear momentum vector of an object to the origin is called the “lever arm.” If the lever arm and linear momentum are collinear, then the magnitude of the angular momentum is zero. Therefore, in this case, the object rotates about the origin such that it lies on the rim of the circumference defined by the lever arm magnitude.
The...
Angular Momentum about an Arbitrary Axis01:11

Angular Momentum about an Arbitrary Axis

Imagine a rigid body with a mass denoted as 'm', which has its center of mass at point G and is rotating around an inertial reference frame. The angular momentum at an arbitrary point P can be calculated by taking the cross product of the position vector and linear momentum vector for each individual mass element.
The velocity of a mass element comprises its translational velocity and the relative velocity instigated by the body's rotation. Substituting the velocity equation into the angular...
Angular Momentum: Rigid Body01:11

Angular Momentum: Rigid Body

The total angular momentum of a rigid body can be calculated using the summation of the angular momentum of all the tiny particles rotating in the same plane. Considering all the tiny particles rotating in the x-y plane, the direction of angular momentum of all such particles and that of the rigid body would be perpendicular to the plane of the rotation along the z-axis.
This calculation can get complicated when tiny particles within the rigid body are not rotating in the same plane but have...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

The Generation of Higher-order Laguerre-Gauss Optical Beams for High-precision Interferometry
12:14

The Generation of Higher-order Laguerre-Gauss Optical Beams for High-precision Interferometry

Published on: August 12, 2013

Optical angular momentum transfer by Laguerre-Gaussian beams.

Stephen H Simpson1, Simon Hanna

  • 1H. H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics, Image Science, and Vision
|March 3, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Laguerre-Gaussian beams impart mechanical effects on particles, causing rotation. Absorbing spheres rotate proportionally to the beam

Area of Science:

  • Optical physics
  • Mechanical effects of light

Background:

  • Laguerre-Gaussian beams possess angular momentum.
  • This momentum can exert mechanical forces on particles.
  • Tight focusing creates intensity gradients for particle trapping.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanical effects of Laguerre-Gaussian beams on particles.
  • To analyze particle rotation and induced torque.
  • To understand the relationship between optical angular momentum and mechanical response.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical analysis of optical forces and torques.
  • Simulation of micrometer-sized particle interactions.
  • T-matrix approach for anisotropic particles.

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Shaping the Amplitude and Phase of Laser Beams by Using a Phase-only Spatial Light Modulator
08:39

Shaping the Amplitude and Phase of Laser Beams by Using a Phase-only Spatial Light Modulator

Published on: January 28, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 25, 2026

The Generation of Higher-order Laguerre-Gauss Optical Beams for High-precision Interferometry
12:14

The Generation of Higher-order Laguerre-Gauss Optical Beams for High-precision Interferometry

Published on: August 12, 2013

Shaping the Amplitude and Phase of Laser Beams by Using a Phase-only Spatial Light Modulator
08:39

Shaping the Amplitude and Phase of Laser Beams by Using a Phase-only Spatial Light Modulator

Published on: January 28, 2019

Main Results:

  • Absorbing spheres exhibit steady rotation proportional to angular momentum flux.
  • Induced torque on arbitrary particles follows Gammaz=Asin(2zeta+delta)+B.
  • Torque density explains behavior not directly tied to total beam momentum.

Conclusions:

  • Laguerre-Gaussian beams induce measurable mechanical effects on particles.
  • Particle rotation and torque depend on optical properties and beam characteristics.
  • The T-matrix method effectively models torque in anisotropic particles.