Optical helicity of interfering waves

Cameron, Robert and Barnett, Steve and Yao, Alison (2014) Optical helicity of interfering waves. Journal of Modern Optics, 61 (1). pp. 25-31. ISSN 0950-0340

Full text not available in this repository.Request a copy from the Strathclyde author

Abstract

Helicity is a property of light which is familiar from particle physics but less well-known in optics. In this paper we recall the explicit form taken by the helicity of light within classical electromagnetic theory and reflect upon some of its remarkable characteristics. The helicity of light is related to, but is distinct from, the spin of light. To emphasise this fact, we draw a simple analogy between the helicity of light and electric charge and between the spin of light and electric current. We illustrate this and other observations by examining various superpositions of plane waves explicitly.

ORCID iDs

Cameron, Robert ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8809-5459, Barnett, Steve and Yao, Alison ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6260-5852;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:46527
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    2 January 2014
    Published
    5 September 2013
    Published Online
    Keywords:optical, helicity, interfering waves, property of light, particle physics, optics, Optics. Light, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
    Subjects:Science > Physics > Optics. Light
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:22 Jan 2014 11:37
    Last modified:07 May 2021 03:59
    Related URLs:
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/46527
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)