Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42245819›Full record

ArticleNational science review2026

Imaginary Poynting momentum: polarization topology and versatile optical manipulation.

Yuchen Zhu, Yuzhi Shi, Tao He, Qinghua Song, Weijin Chen, Chengxing Lai, Zeyong Wei, Xiong Dun, Zhanshan Wang, Che Ting Chan and 2 more

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In one paragraph

Article in National science review, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Yuchen ZhuInstitute of Precision Optical Engineering, School of Physics Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
Yuzhi ShiInstitute of Precision Optical Engineering, School of Physics Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
Tao HeInstitute of Precision Optical Engineering, School of Physics Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
Qinghua SongTsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China.
Weijin ChenInstitute of Precision Optical Engineering, School of Physics Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
Chengxing LaiInstitute of Precision Optical Engineering, School of Physics Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
Zeyong WeiInstitute of Precision Optical Engineering, School of Physics Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
Xiong DunInstitute of Precision Optical Engineering, School of Physics Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
Zhanshan WangInstitute of Precision Optical Engineering, School of Physics Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
Che Ting ChanDepartment of Physics, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong 999077, China.
Cheng-Wei QiuDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117583, Singapore.
Xinbin ChengInstitute of Precision Optical Engineering, School of Physics Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The imaginary Poynting momentum (IPM), as an intrinsic yet mysterious property of light, is nearly as ubiquitous as its real counterpart. However, prior research has only traced its origin to intensity asymmetry and showcased its capability in particle manipulation using evanescent waves and structured light. Fundamentally, the interplay between the IPM and polarization topology remains unexplored, significantly restricting its potential applications. Here, we observe the high-order polarization topological charges (PTCs) in the IPM and expand their capabilities in versatile particle manipulation. PTCs originate from spatial distributions of linear polarizations in vector beams. When the PTC equals 1, the IPM can be utilized to rotate particles. Distinctively, for higher-order PTCs, rotational potential-well arrays with controllable rotation directions emerge to trap and rotate various numbers of particles. This work uncovers a holistic and complete understanding of the IPM by investigating its link to the polarization distribution. It also suggests a credible way to harness polarization-topology optical forces, offering significant potential for biophysical and quantum applications.

Indexed as

advanced particle manipulationimaginary Poynting momentumoptical forcepolarization topological charge

Identifiers

PMID42245819
PMCPMC13231513

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.