Angular momentum exchange between coherent light and matter fields

Authors :: Simula, T. P.
Nygaard, N.
Hu, S. X.
Collins, L. A.
Schneider, B. I.
Molmer, K.
Source :: Phys. Rev. A 77, 015401 (2008)
Publication Year :: 2007
Abstract: Full, three dimensional, time-dependent simulations are presented demonstrating the quantized transfer of angular momentum to a Bose-Einstein condensate from a laser carrying orbital angular momentum in a Laguerre-Gaussian mode. The process is described in terms of coherent Bragg scattering of atoms from a chiral optical lattice. The transfer efficiency and the angular momentum content of the output coupled vortex state are analyzed and compared with a recent experiment.<br />Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures