Abstract
A dislocation in a crystal can be described by a Burger's vector b, whilst a screw dislocation in a laser mode can be described by a topological charge l. By illuminating both optically trapped and self-assembled two-dimensional (2D) colloidal crystals with a Gaussian laser beam, we show a correspondence between crystal and optical dislocations, where the first order diffraction pattern from a crystal with Burgers' vector b = na consists of vortex laser modes of topological charge l = ±mn, (n = integer, a = lattice constant and m = diffraction order).
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | 257 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-11 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | New Journal of Physics |
Volume | 8 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 26 Oct 2006 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Physics and Astronomy