2006/09/05 by Andrew Stewart, Stewart, A. M.
Physics and Astronomy · #Classical Physics (physics.class-ph) #Experimental and Theoretical Physics Studies #FOS: Physical sciences #Optics (physics.optics) #Quantum and Classical Electrodynamics #Relativity and Gravitational Theory
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.physics/0609033
openalex publication_date 2006/09/05 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
A decomposition of the angular momentum of the classical electromagnetic field into orbital and spin components that is manifestly gauge invariant and general has been obtained. This is done by decomposing the electric field into its longitudinal and transverse parts by means of the Helmholtz theorem. The orbital and spin components of the angular momentum of any specified electromagnetic field can be found from this prescription.