Spin-sensitive distribution of electromagnetic field via spin-orbit interaction in structured metamaterials

We investigate the spin-sensitive distribution of electromagnetic (EM) field from a kind of defective inhomogeneous anisotropic metamaterial, with azimuthally distributed subwavelength rectangular holes within a distribution angle of Phi < 2 pi. This structure supports the spin-orbit interaction in the optical angular momentum, induced by the Pancharatnam-Berry phase from the manipulation of the spin states of polarization. Spin-sensitive distributions of electric field intensity, spin states of polarization, and transverse energy flow in the transmitted EM field are investigated. Importance of this investigation and the possible applications are discussed. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4730940]