Orbital angular momentum and rotational properties of off-axis vortex beams in two-dimensional media with anisotropic...

By introducing anisotropy into nonlinear propagations, off-axis vortex beams exhibit significantly different characteristics compared to the isotropic case. The orbital angular momentum (OAM) is non-conservative and can periodically change between positive and negative values. Accordingly, the rotation of phase singularity can transit between clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Furthermore, the phase singularity can move to infinity when the OAM approaches zero. By using the Ehrenfest theorem, the motion of the beam center is obtained. Its trajectory can be circular and parabolic or follow other complex shapes, depending closely on the anisotropy of the nonlinearity. The rotational velocity of the beam center can be modulated by the nonlinearity anisotropy and can far exceed the initial value during its propagation. These results may find potential applications in beam shaping and optical manipulation.