Momentum density in complex electromagnetic waves

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  • School of Physics, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211189, China

Received date: 2022-02-19

  Revised date: 2022-05-06

  Online published: 2023-02-17

Abstract

Poynting vector clearly, as well as simply, describes the longitudinal propagation momentum in homogeneous plane waves. However, for complex electromagnetic waves with vortex phase or inhomogeneous polarizations, Poynting vector can exhibit more characteristics about the momentum density. Based on the phasor representation, we decompose the Poynting vector into orbital and spin momenta, in addition to the usual longitudinal momentum, and paraxially discuss the characterisitcs of transverse orbital momentum and spin momentum, by listing some cases of typical complex electromagnetic waves with physically different transverse flows, which are also explained by corresponding phase gradient pictures. 


Cite this article

DONG Zheng-gao . Momentum density in complex electromagnetic waves[J]. College Physics, 2022 , 41(12) : 26 . DOI: 10.16854 /j.cnki.1000-0712.220085

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