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Laguerre–Gauss and Hermite–Gauss soft X-ray states generated using diffractive optics

Nature Photonics volume 13, pages 205–209 (2019)Cite this article

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Abstract

Light’s capacity to carry angular momentum is integral to our knowledge of physics and ability to probe matter. In addition to spin, photons can occupy free-space orbital angular momentum eigenstates1,2. Visible light orbital angular momentum is used in quantum information experiments, super-resolution microscopy, optical tweezers and angular momentum transfer to atoms in optical lattices3,4. Soft X-ray orbital angular momentum applications, slowed by the lack of suitable optics and the rarity of coherent X-ray sources, could enable the direct alteration of atomic states through orbital angular momentum exchange, and methods to study the electronic properties of quantum materials. We have made soft X-ray diffractive optics that generate single Laguerre–Gauss modes, observed carrying up to 30ħ angular momentum per photon, or their superpositions. We also present Hermite–Gauss diffractive optics and a soft X-ray orbital angular momentum analyser. These tools could enable both the manipulation and finer characterization of topologically complex electronic matter, such as magnetic skyrmions.

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Fig. 1: Coherent soft X-ray diffraction: set-up and fork gratings with b = 1 and b = 10 defect slits.
Fig. 2: OAM analyser transmission function and simulated diffraction pattern.
Fig. 3: OAM analysers and their diffraction outputs.
Fig. 4: Non-OAM carrying TEM modes.

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Data availability

The data that support the plots within this paper and other findings of this study are available from J.C.T.L. (lee216@illinois.edu) and/or the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This research used resources of the Advanced Light Source, a DOE Office of Science User Facility (DE-AC02-05CH11231). Work at the following locations was supported by the DOE Office of Science: University of Oregon (Basic Energy Sciences, DE-SC0010466) and Advanced Light Source (Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Sciences and Engineering Division, DE-AC02-05-CH11231, NEMM program MSMAG).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA

    J. C. T Lee, S. D. Kevan & S. Roy

  2. Department of Physics, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA

    S. J. Alexander & B. J. McMorran

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  1. J. C. T Lee
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  2. S. J. Alexander
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Contributions

B.M., S.R. and S.A. designed the experiment. S.A. fabricated the diffractive optics and performed SEM. J.C.T.L. and S.A. performed the soft X-ray diffraction. J.C.T.L., S.R., S.A., B.M. and S.D.K. wrote the manuscript.

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Correspondence to S. Roy.

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Lee, J.C.T., Alexander, S.J., Kevan, S.D. et al. Laguerre–Gauss and Hermite–Gauss soft X-ray states generated using diffractive optics. Nature Photon 13, 205–209 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41566-018-0328-8

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