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  • Open Access

Direct Observation of the Optical Magnus Effect with a Trapped Ion

Philip Leindecker1,2,*,†, Louis P. H. Gallagher3,*, Edgar Brucke1,2, Dominique Zehnder1,2, Luka Milanovic1,2, Matteo Marinelli1,2,4, Rene Gerritsma3,5, Robert J. C. Spreeuw3,5, Jonathan Home2,6 et al.

Cornelius Hempel1,2,6

  • *These authors contributed equally to this work.
  • †Contact author: pleindecker@ethz.ch
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Phys. Rev. Lett. 137, 063202 – Published 6 August, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/kj5p-qqs5

Abstract

We directly observe and spatially map an optical analog of the Magnus effect, where intrinsic spin-orbit-like coupling of light generates a spin-dependent transverse displacement of the atom-light interaction profile for a Ca+40 ion. Probed on a quadrupole transition using a tightly focused beam, we observe displacements of the maximum in the profile of the effective interaction by several 100 nm originating from intrinsic longitudinal electric field components beyond the paraxial approximation. The tight focus of the beam induces additional transverse polarization gradients, which we characterize through a phase-sensitive measurement and spatial maps for different beam configurations. The results establish the physical basis of polarization-gradient interactions relevant to optical tweezer-based quantum control.

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Phys. Rev. Lett. 137, 063202– Published 6 August, 2026
  • Received 11 February 2026
  • Accepted 7 July 2026
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.

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