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arXiv · 1905.10279

Momentum-space geometric structure of helical evanescent waves and its implications on near-field directionality

Lei Wei·Francisco J. Rodríguez-Fortuño
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Abstract

In this work, a momentum-space geometrical structure in helical evanescent electromagnetic waves is revealed. It is shown that for every helical evanescent wave on a helicity-dependent half tangent line in momentum space, the orientation of each of its field, spin, and Poynting vectors is the same. This geometric structure reveals itself as a remarkable relation between the far-field and near-field components of the angular spectrum. Any general evanescent wavevector is linked to two points on the $k_ρ=k_0$ circle of propagating wavevectors via two helicity-dependent tangent lines. Knowing the field on the $k_ρ=k_0$ circle of a general dipolar source is sufficient to determine its entire evanescent angular spectrum. Applying this concept, we gain insights into near-field directionality by showing that every zero in the angular spectrum is a helicity singularity where two half-tangent lines of opposite helicity intersect. A powerful method for synthetic design of near-field directional sources is also devised, using structured helical illumination to gain full control of the near-field directionality. The results provide a fundamental insight of helical evanescent waves and have implications in areas where chiral light-matter interaction plays a central role.

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Lei Wei, Francisco J. Rodríguez-Fortuño. 2019-12-11. Momentum-space geometric structure of helical evanescent waves and its implications on near-field directionality. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevapplied.13.014008

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