Structured Light and Induced Vorticity in Superconductors

Optical control of quantum states of matter has been at the forefront of novel research on driven phases. We demonstrate the effects of imprinted vorticity on superconducting coherent states using structured light. Within the framework of the generalized time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equation, we demonstrate the induction of coherent vortex pairs moving in phase with a Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) beam, which is characterized by a twisted phase front. In this talk, we will investigate the optically-induced dynamics of superconducting coherent states using both normal light sources and the LG beam. Our work illustrates the rich hydrodynamics of superconducting states and suggests new optical applications for imprinting quantum states on superconducting materials.