Angle-dependent rotation of calcite in elliptically polarized light

Catherine M. Herne; Natalie A. Cartwright; Matthew T. Cattani; Lucas A. Tracy

doi:10.1117/12.2273001

25 August 2017 Angle-dependent rotation of calcite in elliptically polarized light

Catherine M. Herne, Natalie A. Cartwright, Matthew T. Cattani, Lucas A. Tracy

Proceedings Volume 10347, Optical Trapping and Optical Micromanipulation XIV; 103472T (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2273001
Event: SPIE Nanoscience + Engineering, 2017, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Calcite crystals trapped in an elliptically polarized laser field exhibit intriguing rotational motion. In this paper, we show measurements of the angle-dependent motion, and discuss how the motion of birefringent calcite can be used to develop a reliable and efficient process for determining the polarization ellipticity and orientation of a laser mode. The crystals experience torque in two ways: from the transfer of spin angular momentum (SAM) from the circular polarization component of the light, and from a torque due to the linear polarization component of the light that acts to align the optic axis of the crystal with the polarization axis of the light. These torques alternatingly compete with and amplify each other, creating an oscillating rotational crystal velocity. We model the behavior as a rigid body in an angle-dependent torque. We experimentally demonstrate the dependence of the rotational velocity on the angular orientation of the crystal by placing the crystals in a sample solution in our trapping region, and observing their behavior under different polarization modes. Measurements are made by acquiring information simultaneously from a quadrant photodiode collecting the driving light after it passes through the sample region, and by imaging the crystal motion onto a camera. We finish by illustrating how to use this model to predict the ellipticity of a laser mode from rotational motion of birefringent crystals.

Citation Download Citation

Catherine M. Herne, Natalie A. Cartwright, Matthew T. Cattani, and Lucas A. Tracy "Angle-dependent rotation of calcite in elliptically polarized light", Proc. SPIE 10347, Optical Trapping and Optical Micromanipulation XIV, 103472T (25 August 2017); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2273001

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
7 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Crystals

Polarization

Calcite

Motion measurement

Crystal optics

Modes of laser operation

Photodiodes

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years