Jun 28 2019
Scientists have found that light can have a new property, self-torque. This finding could pave the way towards stimulating possibilities in light-connected applications. Scientists explain in an associated video that this could also mean improvement of hard drives and smartphones. The utility of light is closely connected to man’s ability to manipulate light.
Besides the many well-recognized properties like wavelength and intensity, light can be twisted, possessing what is referred to as angular momentum, something scientists have been aware of for a number of decades.
Beams possessing highly structured angular momentum, or orbital angular momentum (OAM), are called vortex beams. Their intensity, which takes a donut-like shape, has utilization in optical communications, quantum optics, microscopy, and microparticle manipulation. Of late, the way unique properties of structured light beams can be realized by manipulating angular momentum has gained interest all over again.
Here, speculating that beams that possess OAM could function in a time-reliant matter, scientists guided by Laura Rego, discovered that light can have a new property, self-torque. Light beams with self-torque have an angular momentum that varies constantly with time.
These beams can be naturally produced via the process of high-harmonic generation. They resemble a croissant, comprising more than an octave of OAM values along the light pulse. In numerous experiments, the authors analyzed the novel properties of beams with self-torque.
"This is the first time that anyone has predicted or even observed this new property of light," said Rego in a connected video. "For example, we think we can modulate the orbital angular momentum of light in the same way frequency is modulated in communications."
Source: http://www.aaas.org