Experimental Investigation on Interactions of Twisted Light with Chiral Molecules
Fumito Araoka, Thierry Verbiest, Koen Clays and Andre Persoons
Recently, Laguerre-Gaussian light, which has helica wavefronts, has been studied actively. Photons of Laguerre-Gaussian light carry optical orbital angular momentum, while circular polarized light comprises photons with optical spin angular momentum. Since it has been reported that, in mechanical processes, optical orbital angular momentum is equivalent to optical spin angular momentum, it seems very natural to expect chiral interaction between Laguerre-Gaussian light and chiral matter. In this study, we experimentally demonstrate that Laguerre-Gaussian light is NOT specific in its interaction with chiral matter through a linear optical process; only circular polarization can engage with materials chirality.