Abstract
The angular momentum density and flux of light in a dispersive, rotationally symmetric medium are derived from Noether's theorem. Optical angular momentum in a dispersive medium has no simple relation to optical linear momentum, even if the medium is homogeneous. A circularly polarized monochromatic beam in a homogeneous, dispersive medium carries a spin angular momentum of per energy , as in vacuum. This result demonstrates the nontrivial interplay of dispersive contributions to optical angular momentum and energy.
- Received 29 May 2012
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.86.055802
©2012 American Physical Society