Polarization and image rotation induced by a rotating dielectric rod: An optical angular momentum interpretation

Miles Padgett*, Graeme Whyte, John Girkin, Amanda Wright, Les Allen, Patrik Ohberg, Stephen M. Barnett

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

52 Citations (Scopus)
254 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

When light is transmitted along the axis of a rotating glass rod, the polarization of the light is rotated through a small angle [Proc. R. Soc. London, Ser. A 349, 423 (1976)]. Under the same conditions, we predict a rotation of the transmitted image by exactly the same angle. The treatment of the two effects in terms of light's spin and orbital angular momentum suggests that they share a common origin.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2205-2207
Number of pages3
JournalOptics Letters
Volume31
Issue number14
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Jul 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

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