Stimulated Raman and Brillouin backscattering of collimated beams carrying orbital angular momentum

Observation of Anomalous Orbital Angular Momentum Transfer in Parametric Nonlinearity

Orbital angular momentum (OAM) conservation plays an important role in shaping and controlling structured light with nonlinear optics. The OAM of a beam originating from three-wave mixing should be the sum or difference of the other two inputs because no light-matter OAM exchange occurs in parametric nonlinear interactions. Here, we report anomalous OAM transfer in parametric upconversion, in which a Hermite-Gauss mode signal interacts with a specially engineered pump capable of astigmatic transformation, resulting in Laguerre-Gaussian mode sum-frequency generation (SFG). The anomaly here refers to the fact that the pump and signal both carry no net OAM, while their SFG does. We reveal experimentally that there is also an OAM inflow to the residual pump, having the same amount of that to the SFG but with the opposite sign, and thus holds system OAM conservation. This unexpected OAM selection rule improves our understanding of OAM transfer among interacting waves and may inspire new ideas for controlling OAM states via nonlinear optics.

Optical Detection and Imaging of Nonfluorescent Matter at the Single-Molecule/Particle Level

Since the first optical detection of single molecules in 1989, single-molecule spectroscopy has developed rapidly and been widely applied in many areas. However, the vast majority of matter is extremely inefficient at emitting photons in our physical world, which seriously limits the applications of optical methods based on photoluminescence. In addition to indirect detection by fluorescence labeling, many efforts have been made to directly image nonfluorescent matter at the single-particle or single-molecule level in different ways based on the absorption or scattering interaction between light and matter. Herein, we review five popular methods for imaging nonfluorescent particles/molecules, including dark-field microscopy (DFM), surface plasmon resonance microscopy (SPRM), surface enhanced Raman microscopy (SERM), interferometric scattering microscopy (iSCAT), and photothermal microscopy (PTM). After summarizing the principles and applications of these methods, we compare the advantages and disadvantages of each method and describe further potential development and applications.

The Longitudinal Plasma Modes of κ-Deformed Kaniadakis Distributed Plasmas Carrying Orbital Angular Momentum

Based on plasma kinetic theory, the dispersion and Landau damping of Langmuir and ion-acoustic waves carrying finite orbital angular momentum (OAM) were investigated in the κ-deformed Kaniadakis distributed plasma system. The results showed that the peculiarities of the investigated subjects relied on the deformation parameter κ and OAM parameter η. For both Langmuir and ion-acoustic waves, dispersion was enhanced with increased κ, while the Landau damping was suppressed. Conversely, both the dispersion and Landau damping were depressed by OAM. Moreover, the results coincided with the straight propagating plane waves in a Maxwellian plasma system when κ=0 and η→∞. It was expected that the present results would give more insight into the trapping and transportation of plasma particles and energy.

Twisted Waves near a Plasma Cutoff

This work considers twisted wave propagation in inhomogeneous and unmagnetised plasma, and discusses the wave properties in the cutoff region. The qualitative differences between twisted waves described by a single Laguerre–Gauss (LG) mode, and light springs resulting from the superposition of two or more LG modes with different frequency and helicity are studied. The peculiar properties displayed by these waves in the nonuniform plasma are discussed. The pulse envelope of a light-spring shows a contraction at reflection, which resembles that of a compressed mechanical spring. The case of normal incidence is examined, and nonlinear ponderomotive effects are discussed, using theory and simulations.

Gain of electron orbital angular momentum in a direct laser acceleration process

Three-dimensional "particle in cell" simulations show that a quasistatic magnetic field can be generated in a plasma irradiated by a linearly polarized Laguerre-Gauss beam with a nonzero orbital angular momentum (OAM). Perturbative analysis of the electron dynamics in the low intensity limit and detailed numerical analysis predict a laser to electrons OAM transfer. Plasma electrons gain angular velocity thanks to the dephasing process induced by the combined action of the ponderomotive force and the laser induced-radial oscillation. Similar to the "direct laser acceleration," where Gaussian laser beams transmit part of its axial momentum to electrons, Laguerre-Gaussian beams transfer a part of their orbital angular momentum to electrons through the dephasing process.

Parametric upconversion of Ince-Gaussian modes

The Ince-Gaussian (IG) mode, a recently discovered type of structured Gaussian beam, corresponds to eigenfunctions of the paraxial wave equation in elliptical coordinates. This propagation-invariant mode is of significance in various domains, in particular, its nonlinear transformation; however, there have been few relevant studies to date. In this Letter, we report the parametric upconversion of IG modes and associated full-field selection rule for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. We demonstrate that IG signals can be perfectly upconverted by a flattop-beam pump; in contrast, significant mode distortion occurred when using the most common Gaussian pump. Particular attention was given to the origin of the distortion, i.e., radial-mode degeneration induced by the sum-frequency generation excited by a Gaussian pump. This proof-of-principle demonstration has great significance in relevant areas, such as high-dimensional quantum frequency interfacing and upconversion imaging.

Raman Techniques: Fundamentals and Frontiers

Driven by applications in chemical sensing, biological imaging and material characterisation, Raman spectroscopies are attracting growing interest from a variety of scientific disciplines. The Raman effect originates from the inelastic scattering of light, and it can directly probe vibration/rotational-vibration states in molecules and materials. Despite numerous advantages over infrared spectroscopy, spontaneous Raman scattering is very weak, and consequently, a variety of enhanced Raman spectroscopic techniques have emerged. These techniques include stimulated Raman scattering and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering, as well as surface- and tip-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopies. The present review provides the reader with an understanding of the fundamental physics that govern the Raman effect and its advantages, limitations and applications. The review also highlights the key experimental considerations for implementing the main experimental Raman spectroscopic techniques. The relevant data analysis methods and some of the most recent advances related to the Raman effect are finally presented. This review constitutes a practical introduction to the science of Raman spectroscopy; it also highlights recent and promising directions of future research developments.

Terahertz vortex generation methods in rippled and vortex plasmas

Terahertz vortices have strong potential for many applications such as imaging and sensing in medicine, biomedical engineering, rotations of molecules, quantum condensation, optical tweezers, manipulation of electron beams, and communications. However, owing to recent developments, there has been less research about vortex generation in the terahertz domain. Due to the damaging limit and low conversion efficiency, a few schemes to generate terahertz vortices based on plasma have recently been reported. Generally, to excite the helicity of the terahertz vortices, two scenarios have been reported: one is transferring the orbital angular momentum from the plasma vortex to the emitted terahertz radiation, and the other is exciting the helicity of the terahertz vortices using twisted input lasers. This paper is a review of recent studies on terahertz vortex generation based on the rippled and vortex plasma substrata.

Creating localized plasma waves by ionization of doped semiconductors

Localized plasma waves can be generated by suddenly ionizing extrinsic semiconductors with spatially periodic dopant densities. The built-in electrostatic potentials at the metallurgical junctions, combined with electron density ripples, offer the exact initial condition for exciting long-lasting plasma waves upon ionization. This method can create plasma waves with a frequency between a few terahertz to subpetahertz without substantial damping. The lingering plasma waves can seed backward Raman amplification in a wide range of resonance frequencies up to the extreme ultraviolet regime. Chirped wave vectors and curved wave fronts allow focusing the amplified beam in both longitudinal and transverse dimensions. The main limitation to this method appears to be obtaining sufficiently low plasma density from solid-state materials to avoid collisional damping.

Plasmon excitations with a semi-integer angular momentum

We provide an explicit model for a spin-1/2 quasi-particle, based on the superposition of plasmon excitations in a quantum plasmas with intrinsic orbital angular momentum. Such quasi-particle solutions can show remarkable similarities with single electrons moving in vacuum: they have spin-1/2, a finite rest mass, and a quantum dispersion. We also show that these quasi-particle solutions satisfy a criterium of energy minimum.

Plasma q-plate for generation and manipulation of intense optical vortices

An optical vortex is a light wave with a twisting wavefront around its propagation axis and null intensity in the beam center. Its unique spatial structure of field lends itself to a broad range of applications, including optical communication, quantum information, superresolution microscopy, and multidimensional manipulation of particles. However, accessible intensity of optical vortices have been limited to material ionization threshold. This limitation might be removed by using the plasma medium. Here we propose the design of suitably magnetized plasmas which, functioning as a q-plate, leads to a direct conversion from a high-intensity Gaussian beam into a twisted beam. A circularly polarized laser beam in the plasma accumulates an azimuthal-angle-dependent phase shift and hence forms a twisting wavefront. Our three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations demonstrate extremely high-power conversion efficiency. The plasma q-plate can work in a large range of frequencies spanning from terahertz to the optical domain.

Mode conversion efficiency to Laguerre-Gaussian OAM modes using spiral phase optics

An analytical model for the conversion efficiency from a TEM₀₀ mode to an arbitrary Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) mode with null radial index spiral phase optics is presented. We extend this model to include the effects of stepped spiral phase optics, spiral phase optics of non-integer topological charge, and the reduction in conversion efficiency due to broad laser bandwidth. We find that through optimization, an optimal beam waist ratio of the input and output modes exists and is dependent upon the output azimuthal mode number.

Angular Momentum of Twisted Radiation from an Electron in Spiral Motion

We theoretically demonstrate for the first time that a single free electron in circular or spiral motion emits twisted photons carrying well-defined orbital angular momentum along the axis of the electron circulation, in adding to spin angular momentum. We show that, when the electron velocity is relativistic, the radiation field contains harmonic components and the photons of lth harmonic carry lℏ total angular momentum for each. This work indicates that twisted photons are naturally emitted by free electrons and are more ubiquitous in laboratories and in nature than ever thought.

Photons, phonons, and plasmons with orbital angular momentum in plasmas

Exact eigen modes with orbital angular momentum (OAM) in the complex media of unmagnetized homogeneous plasmas are studied. Three exact eigen modes with OAM are derived, i.e., photons, phonons, and plasmons. The OAM of different plasma components are closely related to the charge polarities. For photons, the OAM of electrons and ions are of the same magnitude but opposite direction, and the total OAM is carried by the field. For the phonons and plasmons, their OAM are carried by the electrons and ions. The OAM modes in plasmas and their characteristics can be explored for potential applications in plasma physics and accelerator physics.

Orbital angular momentum mode division filtering for photon-phonon coupling

Stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS), a fundamental nonlinear interaction between light and acoustic waves occurring in any transparency material, has been broadly studied for several decades and gained rapid progress in integrated photonics recently. However, the SBS noise arising from the unwanted coupling between photons and spontaneous non-coherent phonons in media is inevitable. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate this obstacle can be overcome via a method called orbital angular momentum mode division filtering. Owing to the introduction of a new distinguishable degree-of-freedom, even extremely weak signals can be discriminated and separated from a strong noise produced in SBS processes. The mechanism demonstrated in this proof-of-principle work provides a practical way for quasi-noise-free photonic-phononic operation, which is still valid in waveguides supporting multi-orthogonal spatial modes, permits more flexibility and robustness for future SBS devices.

High Orbital Angular Momentum Harmonic Generation

We identify and explore a high orbital angular momentum (OAM) harmonics generation and amplification mechanism that manipulates the OAM independently of any other laser property, by preserving the initial laser wavelength, through stimulated Raman backscattering in a plasma. The high OAM harmonics spectra can extend at least up to the limiting value imposed by the paraxial approximation. We show with theory and particle-in-cell simulations that the orders of the OAM harmonics can be tuned according to a selection rule that depends on the initial OAM of the interacting waves. We illustrate the high OAM harmonics generation in a plasma using several examples including the generation of prime OAM harmonics. The process can also be realized in any nonlinear optical Kerr media supporting three-wave interactions.

Deflection of a Reflected Intense Vortex Laser Beam

An interesting deflection effect deviating the optical reflection law is revealed in the relativistic regime of intense vortex laser plasma interaction. When an intense vortex laser obliquely impinges onto an overdense plasma target, the reflected beam deflects out of the plane of incidence with an experimentally observable deflection angle. The mechanism is demonstrated by full three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation as well as analytical modeling using the Maxwell stress tensor. The deflection results from the rotational symmetry breaking of the foil driven by the unsymmetrical shear stress of the vortex beam. The l-dependent shear stress, where l is the topological charge, as an intrinsic characteristic to the vortex beam, plays an important role as the ponderomotive force in relativistic vortex laser matter interaction.

Attospiral generation upon interaction of circularly polarized intense laser pulses with conelike targets

The generation of high-intensity attopulses has been investigated in cylindrical geometry by using a three-dimensional particle-in-cell plasma simulation code. Due to the rotation-symmetric target, a circularly polarized laser pulse is considered, propagating on the axis of a hollow conelike target. The large incidence angle and constant ponderomotive pressure lead to nanobunching of relativistic electrons responsible for the laser-driven synchrotron emission. A numerical method is developed to find the source and direction of the coherent radiation that ensures the existence of attopulses. The intensity modulation in the harmonic spectrum is well described by the model of coherent synchrotron emission extended to the regime of higher order γ spikes. The spatial distribution of the higher harmonics resembles a spiral shape which gets focused into a small volume behind the target.

Amplification and generation of ultra-intense twisted laser pulses via stimulated Raman scattering

Twisted Laguerre–Gaussian lasers, with orbital angular momentum and characterized by doughnut-shaped intensity profiles, provide a transformative set of tools and research directions in a growing range of fields and applications, from super-resolution microcopy and ultra-fast optical communications to quantum computing and astrophysics. The impact of twisted light is widening as recent numerical calculations provided solutions to long-standing challenges in plasma-based acceleration by allowing for high-gradient positron acceleration. The production of ultra-high-intensity twisted laser pulses could then also have a broad influence on relativistic laser–matter interactions. Here we show theoretically and with ab initio three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations that stimulated Raman backscattering can generate and amplify twisted lasers to petawatt intensities in plasmas. This work may open new research directions in nonlinear optics and high–energy-density science, compact plasma-based accelerators and light sources.

High intensity light with a non-zero orbital angular momentum could aid the development of laser-wakefield particle accelerators. Here, the authors theoretically show that stimulated Raman backscattering in plasmas can generate and amplify orbital angular momentum lasers to petawatt intensities.

Light fan driven by a relativistic laser pulse

When a relativistic laser pulse with a high photon density interacts with a specially tailored thin foil target, a strong torque is exerted on the resulting spiral-shaped foil plasma, or "light fan." Because of its structure, the latter can gain significant orbital angular momentum (OAM), and the opposite OAM is imparted to the reflected light, creating a twisted relativistic light pulse. Such an interaction scenario is demonstrated by particle-in-cell simulation as well as analytical modeling, and should be easily verifiable in the laboratory. As an important characteristic, the twisted relativistic light pulse has a strong torque and ultrahigh OAM density.

Quantum-electrodynamical parametric instability in the incoherent photon gas

We present a theory for the quantum-electrodynamical (QED) parametric scattering instability of an intense photon pulse in an incoherent radiation background. The pump electromagnetic (EM) wave can decay into a scattered daughter EM wave and an acousticlike wave due to the QED vacuum polarization nonlinearity. By a linear instability analysis we obtain a nonlinear dispersion relation for the growth rate of the scattering instability. The nonlinear QED scattering instability can give rise to the exchange of orbital angular momentum between intense Laguerre-Gaussian mode photon pulses and the two daughter waves, which may be a useful method to detect the highly energetic photon gases existing in the vicinity of rotating dense bodies in the Universe, such as pulsars and magnetars. The observation of the scattered waves may reveal information about the twisted acoustic waves in the incoherent photon gas.

Twisted electrostatic ion-cyclotron waves in dusty plasmas

We show the existence of a twisted electrostatic ion-cyclotron (ESIC) wave carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) in a magnetized dusty plasma. For our purposes, we derive a 3D wave equation for the coupled ESIC and dust ion-acoustic (DIA) waves from the hydrodynamic equations that are composed of the continuity and momentum equations, together with Poisson's equation. The 3D wave equation reveals the formation of a braided or twisted ESIC wave structure carrying OAM. The braided or twisted ESIC wave structure can trap and transport plasma particles in magnetoplasmas, such as those in Saturn's F-ring and in the forthcoming magnetized dusty plasma experiments.

Stimulated scattering of electromagnetic waves carrying orbital angular momentum in quantum plasmas

We investigate stimulated scattering instabilities of coherent circularly polarized electromagnetic (CPEM) waves carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) in dense quantum plasmas with degenerate electrons and nondegenerate ions. For this purpose, we employ the coupled equations for the CPEM wave vector potential and the driven (by the ponderomotive force of the CPEM waves) equations for the electron and ion plasma oscillations. The electrons are significantly affected by the quantum forces (viz., the quantum statistical pressure, the quantum Bohm potential, as well as the electron exchange and electron correlations due to electron spin), which are included in the framework of the quantum hydrodynamical description of the electrons. Furthermore, our investigation of the stimulated Brillouin instability of coherent CPEM waves uses the generalized ion momentum equation that includes strong ion coupling effects. The nonlinear equations for the coupled CPEM and quantum plasma waves are then analyzed to obtain nonlinear dispersion relations which exhibit stimulated Raman, stimulated Brillouin, and modulational instabilities of CPEM waves carrying OAM. The present results are useful for understanding the origin of scattered light off low-frequency density fluctuations in high-energy density plasmas where quantum effects are eminent.

Inverse Faraday effect with linearly polarized laser pulses

The inverse Faraday effect is usually associated with circularly polarized radiation; here, we show that it can also occur for linearly polarized radiation. The quasistatic axial magnetic field generated by a laser propagating in plasma can be calculated by considering both the spin and the orbital angular momenta of the laser pulse. A net spin is present when the radiation is circularly polarized and a net orbital angular momentum is present if there is any deviation from perfect rotational symmetry. The orbital angular momentum gives an additional contribution to the axial magnetic field that can enhance or reduce the effect usually attributed to circular polarization and strongly depends on the intensity profile of the Laguerre-Gaussian modes involving the azimuthal and radial mode numbers.

Dynamics of electron-phonon scattering: crystal- and angular-momentum transfer probed by resonant inelastic x-ray scattering

Experimentally, we observe angular-momentum transfer in electron-phonon scattering, although it is commonly agreed that phonons transfer mostly linear momentum. Therefore, the incorporation of angular momentum to describe phonons is necessary already for simple semiconductors and bears significant implications for the formation of new quasiparticles in correlated functional materials. Separation of linear and angular-momentum transfer in electron-phonon scattering is achieved by highly selective excitations on the femtosecond time scale of resonant inelastic x-ray scattering.