Researchers Link Hydrogen Ionisation Recoil to Orbital Momentum

A new theoretical framework explains how structured light transfers angular momentum to atoms during ionization. The theory reveals that when hydrogen is ionized by Laguerre, Gaussian beams carrying orbital angular momentum, much of this momentum shifts to the recoiling proton rather than directly to the emitted electron as previously thought. Understanding of how ‘twisted’ light interacts with atoms during ionization processes has refined itself. The discovery shows much of this twisting force isn’t transferred directly to ejected electrons; instead it moves…