Chiral surface reliefs in azopolymer with hybrid optical vortex possessing a half-integer orbital angular momentum

We report on the first demonstration of chiral surface reliefs with an odd number of spiral arms by the irradiation of a hybrid optical vortex possessing a half-integer orbital angular momentum. The hybrid optical vortex is formed by the coherent superposition of optical vortices with ι₁ and ι₂ (|ι₁|-|ι₂|=1) topological charges, with the assistance of the spin angular momentum (SAM). This photo-induced chiral mass transport demonstrates the exotic coupling between orbital and spin angular momentum via photoisomerization of azopolymers. This work will also pave the path towards advanced materials manipulation