Effect of the surface integral in the torque equation of the electromagnetic angular momentum on the Faraday rotation |
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Authors: | Osamu Yamashita |
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Institution: | Materials Science, Co., Ltd., 5-5-44, Minamikasugaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0046, Japan |
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Abstract: | A circularly polarized plane wave of infinite transverse extent (δ = ∞) has no spin angular momentum, while a realistic light does carry it. This paradox originates from the presence (δ = ∞) and absence (δ ≈ 0) of the surface integral in the total angular momentum J. The same holds for the torque equation of dJ/dt, so that δ is also connected with the relative Faraday rotation angle ΘF/θF when a radius (a) of a cylindrical medium with optical activity is only a little larger than that (b) of light beam, where ΘF is the Faraday rotation angle and θF is the intrinsic Faraday rotation angle of a medium. It is shown here that it is possible to estimate δ for a realistic light from the drastic variation in ΘF/θF near b/a = 1. |
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Keywords: | Electromagnetic angular momentum Torque equation Faraday rotation Surface integral Volume integral |
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