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Angular Momentum of the Electromagnetic Field: The Plane Wave Paradox Resolved

Date

Authors

Stewart, Andrew

Publisher

Institute of Physics Publishing

Abstract

The angular momentum of a classical electromagnetic plane wave of arbitrary extent is predicted to be, on theoretical grounds, exactly zero. However, finite sections of circularly polarized plane waves are found experimentally to carry angular momentum, and it is known that the contribution to the angular momentum arises from the edges of the beam. A mathematical model is described that gives a quantitative account of this effect and resolves the paradox.

Keywords

Keywords: Electric field effects; Electromagnetic wave polarization; Electromagnetic wave propagation; Integration; Magnetic field effects; Mathematical models; Maxwell equations; Vectors; Angular momentum; Finite elements; Plane waves; Polarized plane; Electromagn Angular momentum; Boundaries; Helmholtz theorem; Light; Orbital; Plane waves; Spin

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/1885/79833

Collections

ANU Research Publications

Source

European Journal of Physics

Type

Journal article

DOI

10.1088/0143-0807/26/4/008

Restricted until

2037-12-31

Downloads

File

Description

01_Stewart_Angular_Momentum_of_the_2005.pdf (108.44 KB)