Stimulated Raman scattering of a spatiotemporal optical vortex beam

Area of Science:

• Plasma Physics
• Nonlinear Optics
• Quantum Optics

Background:

• Spatiotemporal optical vortex (STOV) beams possess unique orbital angular momentum (OAM) properties.
• Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) is a key nonlinear process in plasma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the conservation and evolution of OAM during SRS of STOV beams in plasma.
• To understand how spatiotemporal diffraction affects OAM transfer in this process.

Main Methods:

• Utilized two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations.
• Analyzed the transfer of transverse OAM from pump to scattered light.

Main Results:

• Transverse OAM is conserved through energy transfer from pump to scattered light.
• Spatiotemporal diffraction of STOV beams leads to inhomogeneous scattered light intensity and slight OAM deviations.
• The effect of spatiotemporal diffraction on OAM is more significant for higher topological charges.

Conclusions:

• Demonstrated OAM transfer during STOV SRS in plasma.
• Highlighted the influence of spatiotemporal diffraction on OAM evolution.
• Provided insights into the dynamics of OAM in nonlinear plasma interactions.