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Figure 2
In (a) an atom is in its ground state in a unit cell while a photon is incoming with circular polarization and momentum parallel to the axis of the cell. In (b) the photon has been absorbed, transferring its angular momentum to the atom, which precesses around the symmetry axis. A photon with momentum orthogonal to the cell axis cannot be absorbed, because the atom cannot absorb its angular momentum since it cannot rotate around any axis orthogonal to the cell axis.

Journal logoJOURNAL OF
SYNCHROTRON
RADIATION
ISSN: 1600-5775
Volume 23| Part 2| March 2016| Pages 560-565
doi:10.1107/S1600577516001326
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