Recent progress in the physics of twisted particles

Abstract

Twisted (vortex) particles with intrinsic orbital angular momenta (OAMs) even in free space are of significant importance in modern physics and have important applications. Twisted photons and electrons were discovered in 1992 and 2010, respectively. The maximum observed OAMs were about 10000ℏ for photons and 1000ℏ for electrons. Recently, twisted neutrons, atoms, and molecules were also discovered. In a magnetic field, charged particles move in a helical trajectory (on a circle in the transverse plane).

Topics & Concepts