Spin-to-orbital angular momentum conversion in semiconductor microcavities
Abstract
We experimentally demonstrate a technique for the generation of optical beams carrying orbital angular momentum using a planar semiconductor microcavity. Despite being isotropic systems with no structural gyrotropy, semiconductor microcavities, because of the transverse-electric-transverse-magnetic polarization splitting that they feature, allow for the conversion of the circular polarization of an incoming laser beam into the orbital angular momentum of the transmitted light field. The process implies the formation of topological entities, a pair of optical vortices, in the intracavity field.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review B
- Pub Date:
- June 2011
- DOI:
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1103.0224
- Bibcode:
- 2011PhRvB..83x1307M
- Keywords:
-
- 78.67.-n;
- 42.25.-p;
- 42.50.Tx;
- 42.79.-e;
- Optical properties of low-dimensional mesoscopic and nanoscale materials and structures;
- Wave optics;
- Optical angular momentum and its quantum aspects;
- Optical elements devices and systems;
- Condensed Matter - Other Condensed Matter;
- Physics - Optics
- E-Print:
- Phys. Rev. B 83, 241307(R) (2011)