Giovanni De Ninno (Author), Jonas Wätzel (Author), Primož Rebernik Ribič (Author), E. Allaria (Author), Marcello Coreno (Author), Miltcho Bojanov Danailov (Author), Christian David (Author), Alexander Demidovich (Author), Michele Di Fraia (Author), Luca Giannessi (Author), Špela Krušič (Author), Andrej Mihelič (Author), Barbara Ressel (Author), Matija Stupar (Author), Matjaž Žitnik (Author)

Abstract

Photons have fixed spin and unbounded orbital angular momentum (OAM). While the former is manifested in the polarization of light, the latter corresponds to the spatial phase distribution of its wavefront1. The distinctive way in which the photon spin dictates the electron motion upon light– matter interaction is the basis for numerous well-established spectroscopies. By contrast, imprinting OAM on a mat- ter wave, specifically on a propagating electron, is gener- ally considered very challenging and the anticipated effect undetectable2. In refs. 3,4, the authors provided evidence of OAM-dependent absorption of light by a bound electron. Here, we seek to observe an OAM-dependent dichroic photo- electric effect, using a sample of He atoms. Surprisingly, we find that the OAM of an optical field can be imprinted coher- ently onto a propagating electron wave. Our results reveal new aspects of light–matter interaction and point to a new kind of single-photon electron spectroscopy.

Keywords

free electron laser;OAM;photoelectric effect;

Data

Language: English
Year of publishing:
Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization: UNG - University of Nova Gorica
UDC: 53
COBISS: 27699459 Link will open in a new window
ISSN: 1749-4885
Views: 2220
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Other data

URN: URN:SI:UNG
Type (COBISS): Not categorized
Pages: str. 554-558
Volume: ǂVol. ǂ14
Issue: ǂiss. ǂ9
Chronology: 2020
DOI: 10.1038/s41566-020-0669-y
ID: 12010097