Transfer of spin angular momentum of an incident wave into orbital angular momentum of the bound states in the continuum in an array of dielectric spheres

Abstract

We consider scattering of electromagnetic plane waves by a linear periodic array of dielectric spheres. For incident waves with circular polarization with frequency tuned to the bound states with orbital angular momentum in the radiation continuum, the spin angular momentum of the incident wave transfers into the orbital angular momentum. This, in turn, gives rise to giant vortical power currents rotating around the array. Incident wave with linear polarization with frequency tuned to the Bloch bound state in the continuum induces giant laminar power currents.