Spin and orbital angular momenta of electromagnetic waves in free space

Masud Mansuripur
Phys. Rev. A 84, 033838 – Published 20 September 2011

Abstract

We derive exact expressions, in the form of Fourier integrals over the (k,ω) domain, for the energy, momentum, and angular momentum of a light pulse propagating in free space. The angular momentum is seen to split naturally into two parts. The spin contribution of each plane-wave constituent of the pulse, representing the difference between its right- and left-circular polarization content, is aligned with the corresponding k-vector. In contrast, the orbital angular momentum associated with each plane-wave is orthogonal to its k-vector. In general, the orbital angular momentum content of the wavepacket is the sum of an intrinsic part, due, for example, to phase vorticity, and an extrinsic part, rCM × p, produced by the linear motion of the center-of-mass rCM of the light pulse in the direction of its linear momentum p.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 13 June 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.84.033838

©2011 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Masud Mansuripur*

  • College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 USA

  • *masud@optics.arizona.edu

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Vol. 84, Iss. 3 — September 2011

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