Electromagnetic Spin-Orbit Interactions via Scattering

TL;DR

This paper investigates how electromagnetic spin-orbit interactions influence scattering through apertures, demonstrating control over phase singularities and polarization-dependent effects via analytical, numerical, and experimental methods.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to manipulate phase vorticity in scattered fields by controlling polarization and aperture configurations.

Findings

Polarization-dependent scattering observed in apertures.

Phase singularities change sign with polarization handedness.

Controlled generation of arbitrary phase vorticity in scattered fields.

Abstract

The longitudinal components of orthogonal-circularly polarized fields carry a phase singularity that changes sign depending on the polarization handedness. The addition of orbital angular momentum adds to or cancels this singularity and results in polarization-dependent scattering through round and square apertures, which we demonstrate analytically, numerically, and experimentally. By preparing the incident polarization and arranging the configuration of sub-wavelength apertures, we produce shadow-side scattered fields with arbitrary phase vorticity.