Solving Maxwell's equations in cylindrical coordinates yields states in quantum theory with definite values of energy ħ ω, longitudinal momentum ħ k_z and total angular momentum projection ħ m on the axis z (where ħ is the Planck constant). Experimentally, for the last quantity values of up to m ∼ 10⁴ have been obtained. The wave front of such a state is like a meat grinder screw, with the lines of force of the Poynting vector representing a screw line. From plane waves, such states differ by the nonzero orbital momentum projection on the direction of motion, and from spherical waves, by the definite direction of motion. For brevity, these states are referred to as 'twisted photons'. In this paper, recent experimental and theoretical results on twisted photons are reviewed, to which the present authors actively contributed. Detailed discussion is given to recent experiments on the production of high intensity beams of terahertz (140 μ m) twisted photons performed on the Novosibirsk free-electron laser at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics. Recent theoretical work on the interaction of twisted photons with atoms is summarized. Due to their extra degree of freedom—the projection of the total angular momentum on the direction of motion—twisted photons represent a novel research tool of potentially wide application in physics.

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Fulltext is also available at DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.2018.02.038306

Keywords: spin angular momentum, orbital angular momentum, beams of twisted photons, interaction of swirling photons with atoms, terahertz radiation PACS: 32.80.−t, 41.60.Cr, 42.79.−e (all) DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.2018.02.038306 URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2018/5/e/ 000441069900005 2-s2.0-85051643643 2018PhyU...61..449K Citation: Knyazev B A, Serbo V G "Beams of photons with nonzero orbital angular momentum projection: new results" Phys. Usp. 61 449–479 (2018) BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks Received: 15th, January 2018, revised: 13th, February 2018, accepted: 13th, February 2018 Оригинал: Князев Б А, Сербо В Г «Пучки фотонов с ненулевой проекцией орбитального момента импульса: новые результаты» УФН 188 508–539 (2018); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.2018.02.038306

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1. N.A. Vinokurov, O.A. Shevchenko “Free electron lasers and their development at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics, SB RAS” Phys. Usp. 61 435–448 (2018)
2. I.B. Logashenko, S.I. Eidel’man “Muon anomalous magnetic moment” Phys. Usp. 61 480–510 (2018)

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