Huge transverse deformation in nonspecular reflection of a light beam possessing orbital angular momentum near critical incidence

We derive a general expression for the field distribution of Hermite- and Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) beams reflected at a dielectric interface. The intensity distributions of the reflected LG light beam at the beam waist are also observed experimentally in the vicinity of the critical incidence. They are greatly deformed because of the nonspecular transverse effect induced by the orbital angular momentum of the LG beam. The observed and calculated intensity distributions agree well and indicate that a large fraction of the electromagnetic energy flows as much as the transverse beam size. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America