Spin-dependent transverse force on a vortex light beam in an inhomogeneous medium1)
N. I. Petrov2)
Scientific and Technological Center for Unique Instrumentation of the RAS, 117342 Moscow, Russia
Abstract
Spin-dependent effects on vortex light beams propagating in an inhomogeneous
medium are demonstrated by solving the full three-component field Maxwell equations using
the perturbation analysis. It is found that the hybrid Laguerre-Gauss
modes with polarization-orbital angular momentum (OAM)
entanglement are the vector solutions of the Maxwell
equations in a graded-index medium. Focusing of linearly and circularly polarized vortex light
beams in a cylindrical graded-index medium is investigated. It is shown that the vortex light
beam undergoes an additional transverse force acting differently on circular polarized beams
with opposite handedness. The wave shape variation with distance taking into account the
spin-orbit and nonparaxial effects is analyzed. Effect of long-term periodical revival of wave
packets due to mode interference in a graded-index cylindrical optical waveguide is
demonstrated.