Angular momentum and vortices in paraxial beams
Abstract
The free propagation of a paraxial light beam can be exactly mapped on the free evolution of a 2D harmonic oscillator over half an oscillation period. We apply this mapping to give an analytical description of the dynamics of vortices and their relation to the orbital angular momentum of light.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Optics A: Pure and Applied Optics
- Pub Date:
- May 2004
- DOI:
- 10.1088/1464-4258/6/5/020
- Bibcode:
- 2004JOptA...6S.248N
- Keywords:
-
- optical vorticesoptical angular momentum