Title: Spin-orbit interactions in optically active materials,
Abstract: We investigate the inherent influence of light polarization on the intensity
distribution in anisotropic media undergoing a local inhomogeneous rotation of
the principal axes. Whereas in general such configuration implies a complicated
interaction between geometric and dynamic phase, we show that, in a medium
showing an inhomogeneous circular birefringence, the geometric phase vanishes.
Due to the spin-orbit interaction, the two circular polarizations perceive
reversed spatial distribution of the dynamic phase. Based upon this effect,
polarization-selective lens, waveguides and beam deflectors are proposed.