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EPSRC Reference: GR/K11536/01
Title: TRANSFER OF ORBITAL ANGULAR MOMENTUM FROM LG MODES TO PARTICLES HELD BY OPTICAL TWEEZERS
Principal Investigator: Padgett, Professor M
Other Investigators:
Allen, Professor L
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Organisation: University of St Andrews
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 October 1994 Ends: 30 September 1996 Value (£): 30,366
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Atoms & Ions
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
It has recently been shown that Languerre-Gaussian Laser modes have an orbital angular momentum. However, to date, there has been no experimental observation of the transfer of this momentum.Laguerre-Gaussian laser modes with orbital angular momentum of several h / per photon, can be obtained from conventional laser systems operating in high order Hermite-Gaussian modes by us of an astigmatic lens system which acts as a mode convertor.In this proposal we seek to exploit recent work on optical tweezers as a means of trapping micron sized particles with correspondingly low moments of inertia on the axis of a laser beam. By utilising Languerre-Gaussian laser modes for this purpose, we aim to observe the transfer of the orbital angular momentum from the laser mode into rotational motion of the trapped particle.Detailed measurements of the observed rotation should enable quantifiable results to be obtained, allowing a direct comparison between theory and experiment.
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Organisation Website: http://www.st-and.ac.uk