Aharonov-Bohm–like effect for light propagating in nematics with disclinations

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Published 23 October 2007 Europhysics Letters Association
, , Citation A. M. de M. Carvalho et al 2007 EPL 80 46002 DOI 10.1209/0295-5075/80/46002

0295-5075/80/4/46002

Abstract

Using a geometric approach for the propagation of light in anisotropic media, we investigate what effect the director field of disclinations may have on the polarization state of light. Parallel transport around the defect, of the spinor describing the polarization, indicates the acquisition of a topological phase, in analogy with the Aharonov-Bohm effect.

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