Experimental verification of position-dependent angular-momentum selection rules for absorption of twisted light by a bound electron

We analyze the multipole excitation of atoms with twisted light, i.e, by a vortex light field that carries orbital angular momentum. A single trapped ^40 Ca ^+ ion serves as a localized and positioned probe of the exciting field. We drive the ${S}_{1/2}\to {D}_{5/2}$ transition and observe the relat...

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Main Authors: Andrei Afanasev, Carl E Carlson, Christian T Schmiegelow, Jonas Schulz, Ferdinand Schmidt-Kaler, Maria Solyanik
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2018-01-01
Series:New Journal of Physics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/aaa63d
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author Andrei Afanasev
Carl E Carlson
Christian T Schmiegelow
Jonas Schulz
Ferdinand Schmidt-Kaler
Maria Solyanik
author_facet Andrei Afanasev
Carl E Carlson
Christian T Schmiegelow
Jonas Schulz
Ferdinand Schmidt-Kaler
Maria Solyanik
author_sort Andrei Afanasev
collection DOAJ
description We analyze the multipole excitation of atoms with twisted light, i.e, by a vortex light field that carries orbital angular momentum. A single trapped ^40 Ca ^+ ion serves as a localized and positioned probe of the exciting field. We drive the ${S}_{1/2}\to {D}_{5/2}$ transition and observe the relative strengths of different transitions, depending on the ion's transversal position with respect to the center of the vortex light field. On the other hand, transition amplitudes are calculated for a twisted light field in form of a Bessel beam, a Bessel–Gauss and a Laguerre–Gauss mode. Analyzing experimental obtained transition amplitudes we find agreement with the theoretical predictions at a level of better than 3%. Finally, we propose measurement schemes with two-ion crystals to enhance the sensing accuracy of vortex modes in future experiments.
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spelling doaj.art-63a4e4174c2946aba4943ef7ea99d5e42023-08-08T14:51:14ZengIOP PublishingNew Journal of Physics1367-26302018-01-0120202303210.1088/1367-2630/aaa63dExperimental verification of position-dependent angular-momentum selection rules for absorption of twisted light by a bound electronAndrei Afanasev0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0679-3307Carl E Carlson1Christian T Schmiegelow2Jonas Schulz3Ferdinand Schmidt-Kaler4Maria Solyanik5Department of Physics, The George Washington University , Washington, DC 20052, United States of AmericaDepartment of Physics, The College of William and Mary in Virginia , Williamsburg, VA 23187, United States of AmericaQUANTUM, Institut für Physik, Universität Mainz , Staudingerweg 7, D-55128 Mainz, Germany; Departamento de Fisica, FCEyN, UBA and IFIBA, Conicet, Pabellon 1, Ciudad Universitaria, 1428 Buenos Aires, ArgentinaQUANTUM, Institut für Physik, Universität Mainz , Staudingerweg 7, D-55128 Mainz, GermanyQUANTUM, Institut für Physik, Universität Mainz , Staudingerweg 7, D-55128 Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Physics, The George Washington University , Washington, DC 20052, United States of AmericaWe analyze the multipole excitation of atoms with twisted light, i.e, by a vortex light field that carries orbital angular momentum. A single trapped ^40 Ca ^+ ion serves as a localized and positioned probe of the exciting field. We drive the ${S}_{1/2}\to {D}_{5/2}$ transition and observe the relative strengths of different transitions, depending on the ion's transversal position with respect to the center of the vortex light field. On the other hand, transition amplitudes are calculated for a twisted light field in form of a Bessel beam, a Bessel–Gauss and a Laguerre–Gauss mode. Analyzing experimental obtained transition amplitudes we find agreement with the theoretical predictions at a level of better than 3%. Finally, we propose measurement schemes with two-ion crystals to enhance the sensing accuracy of vortex modes in future experiments.https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/aaa63doptical vorticesoptical angular momentumquantum selection rulesion trapsRabi oscillations
spellingShingle Andrei Afanasev
Carl E Carlson
Christian T Schmiegelow
Jonas Schulz
Ferdinand Schmidt-Kaler
Maria Solyanik
Experimental verification of position-dependent angular-momentum selection rules for absorption of twisted light by a bound electron
New Journal of Physics
optical vortices
optical angular momentum
quantum selection rules
ion traps
Rabi oscillations
title Experimental verification of position-dependent angular-momentum selection rules for absorption of twisted light by a bound electron
title_full Experimental verification of position-dependent angular-momentum selection rules for absorption of twisted light by a bound electron
title_fullStr Experimental verification of position-dependent angular-momentum selection rules for absorption of twisted light by a bound electron
title_full_unstemmed Experimental verification of position-dependent angular-momentum selection rules for absorption of twisted light by a bound electron
title_short Experimental verification of position-dependent angular-momentum selection rules for absorption of twisted light by a bound electron
title_sort experimental verification of position dependent angular momentum selection rules for absorption of twisted light by a bound electron
topic optical vortices
optical angular momentum
quantum selection rules
ion traps
Rabi oscillations
url https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/aaa63d
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