Orbital angular momentum multiplication in plasmonic vortex cavities

Orbital angular momentum of light is a core feature in photonics. Its confinement to surfaces using plasmonics has unlocked many phenomena and potential applications. Here, we introduce the reflection from structural boundaries as a new degree of freedom to generate and control plasmonic orbital angular momentum. We experimentally demonstrate plasmonic vortex cavities, generating a succession of vortex pulses with increasing topological charge as a function of time. We track the spatiotemporal dynamics of these angularly decelerating plasmon pulse train within the cavities for over 300 femtoseconds using time-resolved photoemission electron microscopy, showing that the angular momentum grows by multiples of the chiral order of the cavity. The introduction of this degree of freedom to tame orbital angular momentum delivered by plasmonic vortices could miniaturize pump probe-like quantum initialization schemes, increase the torque exerted by plasmonic tweezers, and potentially achieve vortex lattice cavities with dynamically evolving topology.

Automated summary

The confinement of light orbital angular momentum to surfaces using plasmonics has led to new ways to generate and control plasmonic orbital angular momentum. Experimental results demonstrate the generation of a series of plasmonic vortex cavities, producing vortex pulses with increasing topological charge over time. This new approach could potentially miniaturize quantum initialization schemes and increase the torque exerted by plasmonic tweezers.