Novel Properties of Twisted-Light Absorption

Abstract

We discuss novel features of twisted-light absorption both by hydrogen-like atoms and by micro-particles. First, we extend the treatment of atomic photoexcitation by twisted photons to include atomic recoil, derive generalized quantum selection rules and consider phenomena of forbidden atomic transitions. Second, using the same electromagnetic potential for the twisted light beams, we analyze the radiation pressure from these beams on micro-sized particles, and verify that while the Poynting vector can in some circumstances point back toward the source, a complete analysis nonetheless gives a repulsive radiation pressure.