  In exploring the light-induced dynamics within the linear response regime,
this study investigates the induced orbital angular momentum on a wide variety
of electronic structures. We derive a general expression for the torque induced
by light on different electronic systems based on their characteristic
dielectric tensor. We demonstrate that this phenomenon diverges from the
inverse Faraday effect as it produces an orbital magnetization persistent
post-illumination. Indeed, our results reveal that, while isotropic
non-dissipative materials do not absorb orbital angular momentum from
circularly polarized light, any symmetry-breaking arrangement of matter, be it
spatial or temporal, introduces novel channels for the absorption of orbital
angular momentum, or magnetization. Most notably, in dissipative materials,
circularly polarized light imparts a torque corresponding to a change in
orbital angular momentum of $\hbar$ per absorbed photon. The potential of these
mechanisms to drive helicity-dependent magnetic phenomena paves the way for a
deeper understanding of light-matter interactions. Notably, the application of
pump-probe techniques in tandem with our findings allows experimentalists to
quantitatively assess the amount of orbital angular momentum transferred to
electrons in matter, thus hopefully enhancing our ability to steer ultrafast
light-induced magnetization dynamics.
