Optical angular momentum in atomic transitions: a paradox

Stated simply the paradox is as follows: it is clear that the orbital angular momentum of a light beam in its direction of propagation is an intrinsic quantity, and therefore has the same value everywhere in the beam. How then can a Gaussian beam, with precisely zero orbital angular momentum, drive...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of physics. A, Mathematical and theoretical Mathematical and theoretical, 2022-06, Vol.55 (23), p.234008
Main Authors: Barnett, Stephen M, Speirits, Fiona C, Babiker, Mohamed
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
atomic transitions
optical angular momentum
quadrupole transitions
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Summary:Stated simply the paradox is as follows: it is clear that the orbital angular momentum of a light beam in its direction of propagation is an intrinsic quantity, and therefore has the same value everywhere in the beam. How then can a Gaussian beam, with precisely zero orbital angular momentum, drive a (single-photon) quadrupole transition which requires the transfer of angular momentum 2 ℏ to an absorbing atom?
ISSN:1751-8113
1751-8121
DOI:10.1088/1751-8121/ac6bd1