Geometrodynamics of spinning light
Date
2008
Authors
Bliokh, Konstantin
Niv, Avi
Kleiner, Vladimir
Hasman, Erez
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
Abstract
The semiclassical evolution of spinning particles has recently been re-examined in condensed matter physics, high-energy physics, and optics, resulting in the prediction of the intrinsic spin Hall effect associated with the Berry phase. A fundamental origin of this effect is related to the spin-orbit interaction and topological monopoles. Here, we report a unified theory and a direct observation of two mutual phenomena: a spin-dependent deflection (the spin Hall effect) of photons and the precession of the Stokes vector along the coiled ray trajectory of classical geometrical optics. Our measurements are in perfect agreement with theoretical predictions, thereby verifying the dynamical action of the topological Berry-phase monopole in the evolution of light. These results may have promising applications in nano-optics and can be immediately extrapolated to the evolution of massless particles in a variety of physical systems.
Description
Keywords
Keywords: Direct observations; Massless particles; Physical systems; Ray trajectories; Spin orbit interactions; Spinning particles; Stokes vector; Unified theory; Crystal symmetry; Fruits; Geometrical optics; High energy physics; Spin Hall effect; Topology; Light
Citation
Collections
Source
Nature Photonics
Type
Journal article
Book Title
Entity type
Access Statement
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DOI
10.1038/nphoton.2008.229
Restricted until
2037-12-31