Forces in Aharonov-Bohm optical setting

    Authors

    S. Sukhov; V. Kajorndejnukul; J. Broky;A. Dogariu

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Optica

    Keywords

    ANALOG; MEDIA; LIGHT; Optics

    Abstract

    The Aharonov-Bohm effect is usually associated with a path-dependent phase accumulated by a charged matter wave and determined by an effective vector potential. In a more general geometrical framework, such phase alterations have been the hallmark of a host of related phenomena in many different fields. However, besides phase changes, it was suggested that for finite wave-packets there is also an additional deflection leading to observable changes in the wave's canonical momentum. In this paper, we create an optical scattering situation that permits observing nonconservative reaction forces, which result from the conservation of canonical momentum. We demonstrate experimentally, for the first time, the presence of such mechanical forces with the magnitude and direction determined by the phase dislocation of the vortex state. Our experimental results offer insights into essentially untested phenomena, where forces act on vortex fields, and allow examining the role of conservation laws and symmetries in complex interacting systems. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America

    Journal Title

    Optica

    Volume

    1

    Issue/Number

    6

    Publication Date

    1-1-2014

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    383

    Last Page

    387

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000354864400005

    ISSN

    2334-2536

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