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Evanescent Field Based Photoacoustics: Optical Property Evaluation at Surfaces
Published on: July 26, 2016
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Extraordinary momentum and spin in evanescent waves
Konstantin Y Bliokh1, Aleksandr Y Bekshaev2, Franco Nori3
11] iTHES Research Group, RIKEN, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan [2] A. Usikov Institute of Radiophysics and Electronics, NASU, Kharkov 61085, Ukraine.
Nature Communications
|March 7, 2014
Summary
Evanescent optical waves exhibit unique spin and momentum properties, unlike propagating light. These findings reveal Belinfante
Area of Science:
- Quantum optics
- Photonics
- Field theory
Background:
- Propagating optical waves carry momentum and longitudinal spin.
- These properties are determined by wave vector and circular polarization.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate spin and momentum properties of evanescent optical waves.
- Explore the implications for fundamental field theory quantities.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis of evanescent optical waves.
- Experimental demonstration using a probe Mie particle.
Main Results:
- Evanescent waves possess a spin component independent of polarization and orthogonal to the wave vector.
- Evanescent waves carry a momentum component determined by circular polarization and orthogonal to the wave vector.
- Observed Belinfante's spin momentum in evanescent fields.
Conclusions:
- Evanescent waves exhibit 'impossible' properties of light.
- Demonstrated the observability of a previously 'virtual' field-theory quantity.
- Revealed fundamental Belinfante's spin momentum in optical systems.
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