On the geometry and topology of the angular momentum of light

dc.contributor.advisor	Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Sachiko Tsuruta	en
dc.contributor.author	Gelbord, Todd Richard	en
dc.date.accessioned	2013-06-25T18:42:55Z
dc.date.available	2013-06-25T18:42:55Z
dc.date.issued	2010	en
dc.description.abstract	The classical field theory approach to the angular momentum of light, specifically how it represents the spin angular momentum of light, has been a matter of controversy for some time. This thesis analyses the aforementioned approach from the point of view of the Exterior Calculus and de Rham Cohomology. It is found purely mathematically that the spin angular momentum of a circularly polarized plane wave of light must be identically zero. It is concluded that the classical formulation of the angular momentum of a plane wave of light is, on some level, incomplete.	en
dc.identifier.uri	https://scholarworks.montana.edu/handle/1/1316	en
dc.language.iso	en	en
dc.publisher	Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science	en
dc.rights.holder	Copyright 2010 by Todd Richard Gelbord	en
dc.subject.lcsh	Light	en
dc.subject.lcsh	Angular momentum	en
dc.subject.lcsh	Topology	en
dc.title	On the geometry and topology of the angular momentum of light	en
dc.type	Thesis	en
thesis.catalog.ckey	1522135	en
thesis.degree.committeemembers	Members, Graduate Committee: Marcy Barge; Charles Kankelborg	en
thesis.degree.department	Physics.	en
thesis.degree.genre	Thesis	en
thesis.degree.name	MS	en
thesis.format.extentfirstpage	1	en
thesis.format.extentlastpage	50	en

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