Spin-orbit interaction of light in three-dimensional microcavities

TL;DR

This paper explores how the transverse confinement of light in 3D microcavities induces spin-orbit coupling, leading to elliptical polarization states and spatial polarization separation, with implications for microcavity design.

Contribution

It demonstrates that spin-orbit interaction arises from transverse confinement in 3D microcavities and analyzes its effects on polarization and spatial separation.

Findings

Elliptical far-field polarization states due to spin-orbit coupling

Spatial separation of polarization handedness in the far field

Enhanced effects in higher excitation modes

Abstract

We investigate the spin-orbit coupling of light in three-dimensional cylindrical and tube-like whispering gallery mode resonators. We show that its origin is the transverse confinement of light in the resonator walls, even in the absence of inhomogeneities or anisotropies. The spin-orbit interaction results in elliptical far-field polarization (spin) states and causes spatial separation of polarization handedness in the far field. The ellipticity and spatial separation are enhanced for whispering gallery modes with higher excitation numbers along the resonator height. We analyze the asymmetry of the ellipticity and the tilt of the polarization orientation in the far field of cone-like microcavities. Furthermore, we find a direct relationship between the tilt of the polarization orientation in the far field and the local inclination of the resonator wall. Our findings are based on FDTD-simulations and are supported by three-dimensional diffraction theory.