scholarly journals Symmetry and Quantum Features in Optical Vortices

Symmetry ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1368
Author(s):  
David L. Andrews

Optical vortices are beams of laser light with screw symmetry in their wavefront. With a corresponding azimuthal dependence in optical phase, they convey orbital angular momentum, and their methods of production and applications have become one of the most rapidly accelerating areas in optical physics and technology. It has been established that the quantum nature of electromagnetic radiation extends to properties conveyed by each individual photon in such beams. It is therefore of interest to identify and characterize the symmetry aspects of the quantized fields of vortex radiation that relate to the beam and become manifest in its interactions with matter. Chirality is a prominent example of one such aspect; many other facets also invite attention. Fundamental CPT symmetry is satisfied throughout the field of optics, and it plays significantly into manifestations of chirality where spatial parity is broken; duality symmetry between electric and magnetic fields is also involved in the detailed representation. From more specific considerations of spatial inversion, amongst which it emerges that the topological charge has the character of a pseudoscalar, other elements of spatial symmetry, beyond simple parity inversion, prove to repay additional scrutiny. A photon-based perspective on these features enables regard to be given to the salient quantum operators, paying heed to quantum uncertainty limits of observables. The analysis supports a persistence in features of significance for the material interactions of vortex beams, which may indicate further scope for suitably tailored experimental design.

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikhail Korobko ◽  
Yiqiu Ma ◽  
Yanbei Chen ◽  
Roman Schnabel

AbstractThe quantum uncertainty of laser light limits the sensitivity of gravitational-wave observatories. Over the past 30 years, techniques for squeezing the quantum uncertainty, as well as for enhancing gravitational-wave signals with optical resonators have been invented. Resonators, however, have finite linewidths, and the high signal frequencies that are produced during the highly scientifically interesting ring-down of astrophysical compact-binary mergers still cannot be resolved. Here, we propose a purely optical approach for expanding the detection bandwidth. It uses quantum uncertainty squeezing inside one of the optical resonators, compensating for the finite resonators’ linewidths while keeping the low-frequency sensitivity unchanged. This quantum expander is intended to enhance the sensitivity of future gravitational-wave detectors, and we suggest the use of this new tool in other cavity-enhanced metrological experiments.


Symmetry ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan Bernabeu ◽  
Jose Navarro-Salas

A non-local action functional for electrodynamics depending on the electric and magnetic fields, instead of potentials, has been proposed in the literature. In this work we elaborate and improve this proposal. We also use this formalism to confront the electric-magnetic duality symmetry of the electromagnetic field and the Aharonov–Bohm effect, two subtle aspects of electrodynamics that we examine in a novel way. We show how the former can be derived from the simple harmonic oscillator character of vacuum electrodynamics, while also demonstrating how the magnetic version of the latter naturally arises in an explicitly non-local manner.


1998 ◽  
Vol 13 (28) ◽  
pp. 2249-2264 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. V. AHLUWALIA

The L/E-flatness of the e-like events observed in the recent atmospheric-neutrino data from super-Kamiokande (SuperK) is interpreted to reflect a new symmetry of the neutrino-oscillation mixing matrix. From that we obtain an analytical set of constraints yielding a class of mixing matrices of the property to simultaneously fit both the SuperK and the LSND data. The resulting mass squared difference relevant for the LSND experiment is found as 0.3 eV2. The discussed symmetry, e.g., carries the nature that expectation values of masses for νμ and ντ are identical. These considerations are purely data dictated. A different framework is then applied to the solar neutrino problem. It is argued that a single sterile neutrino is an unlikely candidate to accommodate the data from the four solar neutrino experiments. A scenario is discussed which violates CPT symmetry, and favors the [Formula: see text] system to belong to the "self"–"anti-self" charge conjugate construct in the (1/2, 0)⊕(0,1/2) representation space, where the needed helicity flipping amplitudes are preferred, rather than the usual Dirac, or Majorana, constructs. In the presented framework the emerging SuperK data on solar neutrino flux is reconciled with the Homestake, GALLEX, and SAGE experiments. This happens because the former detects not only the solar νe but also, at a lower cross-section, the oscillated solar [Formula: see text]; while the latter are sensitive only to the oscillation-diminished solar νe flux. A direct observation of solar [Formula: see text] by SNO will confirm our scenario. Finally, we consider the possibility for flavor-dependent gravitational couplings of neutrinos as emerging out of the noncommutativity of the quantum operators associated with the measurements of energy and flavor.


Author(s):  
Burton B. Silver ◽  
Theodore Lawwill

Dutch-belted 1 to 2.5 kg anesthetized rabbits were exposed to either xenon or argon laser light administered in a broad band, designed to cover large areas of the retina. For laser exposure, the pupil was dilated with atropine sulfate 1% and pheny lephrine 10%. All of the laser generated power was within a band centered at 5145.0 Anstroms. Established threshold for 4 hour exposures to laser irradiation are in the order of 25-35 microwatts/cm2. Animals examined for ultrastructural changes received 4 hour threshold doses. These animals exhibited ERG, opthalmascopic, and histological changes consistent with threshold damage.One month following exposure the rabbits were killed with pentobarbitol. The eyes were immediately enucleated and dissected while bathed in 3% phosphate buffered gluteraldehyde.


Author(s):  
T. Oikawa ◽  
N. Mori ◽  
T. Katoh ◽  
Y. Harada ◽  
J. Miyahara ◽  
...  

The “Imaging Plate”(IP) is a highly sensitive image recording plate for X-ray radiography. It has been ascertained that the IP has superior properties and high practicability as an image recording material in a TEM. The sensitivity, one of the properties, is about 3 orders higher than that of conventional photo film. The IP is expected to be applied to low dose techniques. In this paper, an estimation of the quantum noise on the TEM image which appears in case of low electron dose on the IP is reported.In this experiment, the JEM-2000FX TEM and an IP having the same size as photo film were used.Figure 1 shows the schematic diagram of the total system including the TEM used in this experiment. In the reader, He-Ne laser light is scanned across the IP, then blue light is emitted from the IP.


Author(s):  
F. Hasselbach ◽  
A. Schäfer

Möllenstedt and Wohland proposed in 1980 two methods for measuring the coherence lengths of electron wave packets interferometrically by observing interference fringe contrast in dependence on the longitudinal shift of the wave packets. In both cases an electron beam is split by an electron optical biprism into two coherent wave packets, and subsequently both packets travel part of their way to the interference plane in regions of different electric potential, either in a Faraday cage (Fig. 1a) or in a Wien filter (crossed electric and magnetic fields, Fig. 1b). In the Faraday cage the phase and group velocity of the upper beam (Fig.1a) is retarded or accelerated according to the cage potential. In the Wien filter the group velocity of both beams varies with its excitation while the phase velocity remains unchanged. The phase of the electron wave is not affected at all in the compensated state of the Wien filter since the electron optical index of refraction in this state equals 1 inside and outside of the Wien filter.


Author(s):  
Gertrude. F. Rempfer

Optimum performance in electron and ion imaging instruments, such as electron microscopes and probe-forming instruments, in most cases depends on a compromise either between imaging errors due to spherical and chromatic aberrations and the diffraction error or between the imaging errors and the current in the image. These compromises result in the use of very small angular apertures. Reducing the spherical and chromatic aberration coefficients would permit the use of larger apertures with resulting improved performance, granted that other problems such as incorrect operation of the instrument or spurious disturbances do not interfere. One approach to correcting aberrations which has been investigated extensively is through the use of multipole electric and magnetic fields. Another approach involves the use of foil windows. However, a practical system for correcting spherical and chromatic aberration is not yet available.Our approach to correction of spherical and chromatic aberration makes use of an electrostatic electron mirror. Early studies of the properties of electron mirrors were done by Recknagel. More recently my colleagues and I have studied the properties of the hyperbolic electron mirror as a function of the ratio of accelerating voltage to mirror voltage. The spherical and chromatic aberration coefficients of the mirror are of opposite sign (overcorrected) from those of electron lenses (undercorrected). This important property invites one to find a way to incorporate a correcting mirror in an electron microscope. Unfortunately, the parts of the beam heading toward and away from the mirror must be separated. A transverse magnetic field can separate the beams, but in general the deflection aberrations degrade the image. The key to avoiding the detrimental effects of deflection aberrations is to have deflections take place at image planes. Our separating system is shown in Fig. 1. Deflections take place at the separating magnet and also at two additional magnetic deflectors. The uncorrected magnified image formed by the objective lens is focused in the first deflector, and relay lenses transfer the image to the separating magnet. The interface lens and the hyperbolic mirror acting in zoom fashion return the corrected image to the separating magnet, and the second set of relay lenses transfers the image to the final deflector, where the beam is deflected onto the projection axis.


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