In:
Advances in Optics and Photonics, Optica Publishing Group, Vol. 15, No. 3 ( 2023-09-30), p. 835-
Abstract:
Harnessing linear and angular momenta of light is
one of the cornerstones in modern optics and has found tremendous applications in optical circuits, particle manipulation, metrology,
quantum information processing, etc. Emerging theoretical protocols and experimental explorations have created a surge of interest in
light lateral momenta and forces, which are perpendicular to the light wave propagation direction. However, there is yet a lack of a
comprehensive and holistic overview of transverse momenta (both linear and angular) as well as of optical lateral forces (OLFs). In this
article, we first review the most recent transverse momenta including the transverse spin angular momentum, optical skyrmions, as well as lateral momenta from directional side scattering, spin–orbit
interaction, and surface plasmon polaritons. Since optical forces result from the momentum exchange between light and matter, the
transverse momentum consequently gives rise to intriguing OLFs, which is the second topic of this article. Additional non-trivial lateral
forces that combine optics with other effects from thermodynamics, electricity, and microfluidics, are also discussed. It should be
emphasized that these momenta and forces ubiquitously exist in a broad range of optical phenomena and have often been neglected due to their
unpredicted underlying physics and shortage of experimental means, especially prior to the last
decade.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1943-8206
Language:
English
Publisher:
Optica Publishing Group
Publication Date:
2023
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