Manipulating Transverse Spin Angular Momentum with Symmetrically Modulated Hybridly Polarized Vector Optical Field

Abstract

Transverse spin angular momentum (SAM) of photon, also known as ‘photonic wheel’, has attracted much attention, owing to its extraordinary properties and broad application prospect. Thus, it is essential to flexibly manipulate the transverse SAM in order to satisfy different needs. In this article, we design and generate a new kind of symmetrically modulated hybridly polarized vector optical field (SM-HP-VOF), and pure transverse SAM can be achieved based on the tightly focused SM-HP-VOF. Through adjusting the parameters of the SM-HP-VOF, the shape, intensity, and symmetry of the transverse SAM can be modulated. Moreover, by adding a segmented vortex phase distribution to the SM-HP-VOF, the transverse SAM becomes more concentrated and stronger, indicating that the orbital angular momentum can be a catalyst in modulating transverse SAM. Such results can provide a new avenue in studying and modulating transverse SAM, which would have potential applications in various areas including chip optical circuitry, optical quantum computing, and optical trapping and manipulation.