Spin Hall effect of transversely spinning light

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Metamaterials
• Spin Optics

Background:

• Light possesses spin angular momentum, typically aligned with its propagation direction.
• Transverse-spin (T-spin) states, with spin perpendicular to propagation, have been observed for surface and bulk waves in metamaterials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the spin Hall effect for transversely spinning light at a metamaterial interface.
• To investigate the nature and controllability of the T-spin-induced beam shift.

Main Methods:

• Experimental demonstration of the spin Hall effect using transversely spinning light.
• Utilizing engineered metamaterials to support T-spin states.
• Analyzing the beam shift at the metamaterial interface.

Main Results:

• Observed a T-spin-induced beam shift at the metamaterial interface.
• The beam shift occurs within the plane of incidence, differing from Imbert-Fedorov shifts.
• The shift's sign (positive or negative) is controllable by the T-spin orientation.

Conclusions:

• The study reveals an unconventional spin Hall effect of light driven by T-spin.
• This effect is geometrodynamical and controllable.
• It presents a new mechanism for manipulating light-matter interactions at interfaces.