Rotation of electromagnetic fields and the nature of optical angular momentum
Open Access
- 17 February 2010
- journal article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Journal of Modern Optics
- Vol. 57 (14-15), 1339-1343
- https://doi.org/10.1080/09500341003654427
Abstract
The association of spin and orbital angular momenta of light with its polarization and helical phase fronts is now well established. The problems in linking this with electromagnetic theory, as expressed in Maxwell's equations, are rather less well known. We present a simple analysis of the problems involved in defining spin and orbital angular momenta for electromagnetic fields and discuss some of the remaining challenges. Crucial to our investigation is the duplex symmetry between the electric and magnetic fields.Keywords
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