Spin-Orbit Coupling in Quasi-Monochromatic Beams

Abstract

We investigate the concept that the value of the spin-orbit coupling is the energy efficiency of energy transfer between orthogonal components. The energy efficiency changes as the beam propagates through the crystal. For a fundamental Gaussian beam, its value cannot exceed 50%, while the energy efficiency for Hermite–Gaussian and Laguerre–Gaussian beams of higher orders of the complex argument can reach a value close to 100%. For Hermite–Gauss and Laguerre–Gauss beams of higher orders of real argument, the maximum energy efficiency can only slightly exceed 50%. It is shown that zero-order Bessel–Gauss beams are able to achieve an energy efficiency close to 100% when generating an axial vortex in the orthogonal component in both monochromatic and polychromatic light, while for a polychromatic Laguerre–Gauss or Hermite–Gauss beam of a complex argument, the energy efficiency reduced to a value not exceeding 50%. The spin angular momentum is compensated by changing the orbital angular momentum of the entire beam, which occurs as a result of the difference in the topological charge of the orthogonally polarized component by 2 units.