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A. M. Stewart

Publications and source records attributed to A. M. Stewart.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2015

Does the Helmholtz theorem of vector decomposition apply to the wave fields of electromagnetic radiation?

The derivation of the Helmholtz theorem of vector decomposition of a 3-vector field requires that the field satisfy certain convergence properties at spatial infinity. This paper investigates if time-dependent electromagnetic radiation wave fields, which are of long range, satisfy these requirements. It is found that the requirements are satisfied because the fields give rise to integrals over the radial distance r of integrands of the form sin(kr)/r and cos(kr)/r. These Dirichlet integrals converge at infinity as required.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2015

Quantization of the free electromagnetic field implies quantization of its angular momentum

It is shown that when the gauge-invariant Bohr-Rosenfeld commutators of the free electromagnetic field are applied to the expressions for the linear and angular momentum of the electromagnetic field interpreted as operators then, in the absence of electric and magnetic charge densities, these operators satisfy the canonical commutation relations for momentum and angular momentum. This confirms their validity as operators that can be used in quantum mechanical calculations of angular momentum.

math-ph↗
arXiv2014

Longitudinal and transverse components of a vector field

A unified account, from a pedagogical perspective, is given of the longitudinal and transverse projective delta functions proposed by Belinfante and of their relation to the Helmholtz theorem for the decomposition of a three-vector field into its longitudinal and transverse components. It is argued that the results are applicable to fields that are time-dependent as well as fields that are time-independent.

physics.class-ph↗
arXiv2014

On an identity for the volume integral of the square of a vector field

A proof is given of the vector identity proposed by Gubarev, Stodolsky and Zakarov that relates the volume integral of the square of a 3-vector field to non-local integrals of the curl and divergence of the field. The identity is applied to the case of the magnetic vector potential and magnetic field of a rotating charged shell. The latter provides a straightforward exercise in the use of the addition theorem of spherical harmonics.

physics.class-ph↗
arXiv2014

Role of the non-locality of the vector potential in the Aharonov-Bohm effect

When the electromagnetic potentials are expressed in the Coulomb gauge in terms of the electric and magnetic fields rather than the sources responsible for these fields they have a simple form that is non-local i.e. the potentials depend on the fields at every point in space. It is this non-locality of classical electrodynamics that is at first instance responsible for the puzzle associated with the Aharonov-Bohm effect: that its interference pattern is affected by fields in a region of space that the electron beam never enters.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2012

Comparison of different forms for the "spin" and "orbital" components of the angular momentum of light

We compare three attempts that have been made to decompose the angular momentum of the electromagnetic field into components of an "orbital" and "spin" nature. All three expressions are different and it appears, on the basis of classical electrodynamics, that there is no preferred way of decomposing the angular momentum of the electromagnetic field into orbital and spin components, even in an inertial frame.

physics.class-ph↗
arXiv2011

Interatomic forces, phonons, the Foreman-Lomer Theorem and the Blackman Sum Rule

Foreman and Lomer proposed in 1957 a method of estimating the harmonic forces between parallel planes of atoms of primitive cubic crystals by Fourier transforming the squared frequencies of phonons propagating along principal directions. A generalized form of this theorem is derived in this paper and it is shown that it is more appropriate to apply the method to certain combinations of the phonon dispersion relations rather than to individual dispersion relations themselves. Further, it is also shown how the method may be extended to the non-primitive hexagonal close packed and diamond lattices. Explicit, exact and general relations in terms of atomic force constants are found for deviations from the Blackman sum rule which itself is shown to be derived from the generalized Foreman-Lomer theorem.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv2010

Comments on "On vector potential of the Coulomb gauge"

The instantaneous nature of the potentials of the Coulomb gauge is clarified and a concise derivation is given of the vector potential of the Coulomb gauge expressed in terms of the instantaneous magnetic field.

physics.class-ph↗
arXiv2010

Self-Assembly in the Growth of Precious Opal

It is proposed that primary nucleation of amorphous microspherulites of hydrated silica in natural proto-precious-opal can be followed by a long range superlattice ordering process by means of electrostatic self-assembly. Necessary conditions in the thermodynamics are a high surface charge density on microspherulite surfaces, a long Debye length and an appropriate number density of nucleation centres. A further chemical requirement is a high alkaline environmental pH from 9 to 10. It is also proposed that the characteristic concentric spherical shell-like structure of spherulites, centred on primary nuclei, are due to sequential deposition of intrinsic salts which precipitate out when the corresponding solubility limits in the liquid are successively exceeded. It can be that the better-known sedimentation of microspherulites under gravity only plays part in the final stabilization period of overall growth.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2009

Angular momentum of the physical electron

The angular momentum of the physical electron, modelled as a Dirac fermion coupled to the electromagnetic field, is found to be hbar/2, the same as that of a bare Dirac fermion and independent of the size of the electric charge.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2006

Orbital and spin components of the angular momentum of a general electromagnetic field

A decomposition of the angular momentum of the classical electromagnetic field into orbital and spin components that is manifestly gauge invariant and general has been obtained. This is done by decomposing the electric field into its longitudinal and transverse parts by means of the Helmholtz theorem. The orbital and spin components of the angular momentum of any specified electromagnetic field can be found from this prescription.

physics.class-ph↗
arXiv2006

Derivation of the paraxial form of the angular momentum of the electromagnetic field from the general form

It is shown how the standard forms for the spin and orbital components of the angular momentum of a paraxial wave of electromagnetic radiation are obtained from the general expressions for the angular momentum that have been derived recently. This result will enable the general expressions for angular momentum to be applied with confidence to the many configurations of electromagnetic fields that are more complicated than plane or paraxial waves.

physics.class-ph↗
arXiv2005

Angular momentum of the electromagnetic field: the plane wave paradox resolved

The angular momentum of a classical electromagnetic plane wave of arbitrary extent is predicted to be, on theoretical grounds, exactly zero. However, finite sections of circularly polarized plane waves are found experimentally to carry angular momentum and it is known that the contribution to the angular momentum arises from the edges of the beam. A mathematical model is described that gives a quantitative account of this effect and resolves the paradox.

physics.class-ph↗
arXiv2005

Wave mechanics without gauge fixing

By using the multipolar gauge it is shown that the quantum mechanics of an electrically charged particle moving in a prescribed classical electromagnetic field (wave mechanics) may be expressed in a manner that is gauge invariant, except that the only gauge functions that are allowable in a gauge transformation are those that consist of the sum of a function that depends only on the space coordinates and a term that is the product of a constant and the time coordinate. The multipolar gauge specifies the specific set of potentials that are best suited for use in the Schroedinger equation.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2005

Angular momentum of light

By means of the Helmholtz theorem on the decomposition of vector fields, the angular momentum of the classical electromagnetic field is decomposed, in a general and manifestly gauge invariant manner, into a spin component and an orbital component. The method is applied to linearly and circularly polarized plane waves in their classical and quantum forms.

physics.optics↗