Magnetoelectric-field microwave antennas: Far-field orbital angular momenta from chiral-topology near fields

Abstract

The near fields in the proximity of a small ferrite particle with magnetic-dipolar-mode (MDM) oscillations have space and time symmetry breakings. Such MDM originated fields, called magnetoelectric (ME) fields, carry both spin and orbital angular momentums. By virtue of unique topology, ME fields are strongly different from free-space electromagnetic (EM) fields. In this paper, we show that because of chiral topology of ME fields in a nearfield region, far-field orbital angular momenta (OAM) can be observed, both numerically and experimentally. In a single element antenna, we obtain a radiation pattern with an angular squint. We reveal that in far field microwave radiation a crucial role is played by the ME energy distribution in the near-field region.