Quantised orbital angular momentum transfer and magnetic dichroism in the interaction of electron vortices with matter

TL;DR

This paper investigates how electron vortices transfer orbital angular momentum to matter, explaining observed dichroism in magnetized samples and highlighting differences from optical vortices.

Contribution

It demonstrates orbital angular momentum transfer in electron vortices within the electric dipole approximation, contrasting with optical vortices, and explains the physical basis of dichroism.

Findings

Orbital angular momentum transfer occurs in electron vortices at the dipole level.

Dichroism in magnetized samples is physically explained.

Contrast with optical vortices where higher multipoles are involved.

Abstract

Following the very recent experimental realisation of electron vortices, we consider their interaction with matter, in particular the transfer of orbital angular momentum in the context of electron energy loss spectroscopy, and the recently observed dichroism in thin film magnetised iron samples. We show here that orbital angular momentum exchange does indeed occur between electron vortices and the internal electronic-type motion, as well as center of mass motion of atoms in the electric dipole approximation. This contrasts with the case of optical vortices where such transfer only occurs in transitions involving multipoles higher than the dipole. The physical basis of the observed dichroism is explained.