[Jlab-seminars] Today's Physics Seminar: Andrei Afanasev; Light with Large Orbital Angular Momentum: Theory, Novel Features and Applications

[Stephanie Tysor]

*Physics Seminar*

*Andrei Afanasev*

*George Washington University***

Light with Large Orbital Angular Momentum: Theory, Novel Features and 
Applications

*Abstract*

/Light beams with large values of the angular momentum along the 
direction of propagation is an active field of study in optics; a 
summary of their applications will be presented in this talk./

/These light beams are known as optical vortices or, when quantized, as 
twisted photons. Extension of this concept to the beams of neutrons and 
electrons was recently demonstrated experimentally./

//

/We will review basic theory of the twisted photons and demonstrate that 
in their interactions with elementary quantum systems, like a hydrogen 
atom, the photo-absorption process follows new quantum selection rules 
for high-multipole excitations. An optical analogue of single-spin 
asymmetries - circular dichroism - is observed for the twisted photons 
interacting with isotropic targets. Interplay of spin and angular 
momentum of these photons are instructive for the discussion of the role 
of gluons in the nucleon’s spin. /

//

/We point out a possibility of generating twisted photons at high 
energies via Compton backscattering, making them relevant for nuclear 
and high-energy physics. /

*Friday, September 16, 2016*

*11:00 am*

*CEBAF Auditorium*

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