TY - JOUR
T1 - On the transformations generated by the electromagnetic spin and orbital angular momentum operators
AU - Fernandez-Corbaton, Ivan
AU - Zambrana-Puyalto, Xavier
AU - Molina-Terriza, Gabriel
PY - 2014/9/1
Y1 - 2014/9/1
N2 - We present a study of the properties of the transversal "spin angular momentum" and "orbital angular momentum" operators. We show that the "spin angular momentum" operators are generators of spatial translations that depend on helicity and frequency and that the "orbital angular momentum" operators generate transformations that are a sequence of this kind of translation and rotation. We give some examples of the use of these operators in light-matter interaction problems. Their relationship with the helicity operator allows us to involve electromagnetic duality symmetry in the analysis. We also find that simultaneous eigenstates of the three "spin" operators and parity define a type of standing mode that has recently been singled out for the interaction of light with chiral molecules. With respect to the relationship between "spin angular momentum," polarization, and total angular momentum, we show that, except for the case of a single plane wave, the total angular momentum of the field is decoupled from its vectorial degrees of freedom even in the regime in which the paraxial approximation holds. Finally, we point out a relationship between the three "spin" operators and the spatial part of the Pauli-Lubanski four vector.
AB - We present a study of the properties of the transversal "spin angular momentum" and "orbital angular momentum" operators. We show that the "spin angular momentum" operators are generators of spatial translations that depend on helicity and frequency and that the "orbital angular momentum" operators generate transformations that are a sequence of this kind of translation and rotation. We give some examples of the use of these operators in light-matter interaction problems. Their relationship with the helicity operator allows us to involve electromagnetic duality symmetry in the analysis. We also find that simultaneous eigenstates of the three "spin" operators and parity define a type of standing mode that has recently been singled out for the interaction of light with chiral molecules. With respect to the relationship between "spin angular momentum," polarization, and total angular momentum, we show that, except for the case of a single plane wave, the total angular momentum of the field is decoupled from its vectorial degrees of freedom even in the regime in which the paraxial approximation holds. Finally, we point out a relationship between the three "spin" operators and the spatial part of the Pauli-Lubanski four vector.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84906875921&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1364/JOSAB.31.002136
DO - 10.1364/JOSAB.31.002136
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84906875921
SN - 0740-3224
VL - 31
SP - 2136
EP - 2141
JO - Journal of the Optical Society of America B: Optical Physics
JF - Journal of the Optical Society of America B: Optical Physics
IS - 9
ER -