As @gneill notes: It has angular momentum even when it's moving in a straight line, around any point not on that line.referframe said:
Yes, except that it is probably much less temporary than you might assume.referframe said:
Not exactly, although the distinction is a pedantic one to a certain degree in such a situation. It is still the case that one might measure the electron in a basis not commuting with Angular Momentum. Only if we have an experimental set up which can measure angular momentum can we then say (assuming the wave function is reasonably "tight" about a classical path) that it has orbital angular momentum.gneill said:
Keep in mind that this problem is posed in a "Classical Physics" domain.QLogic said:
Well if the electron is treated as a classical object then it definitely has orbital angular momentum. I thought usage of "temporarily possesses classical orbital angular momentum" suggested the electron was being treated quantum mechanically.gneill said:
I guess you missed the word “classical”. He is talking about a classical point charge, not an actual electron.QLogic said:
No harm, no foul. I frequently misinterpret intended situations until I stand back and look at the context.QLogic said:
Thanks, I forgot just how general the definition of classical angular momentum was.gneill said:
Classical EM waves are transverse waves that propagate in a straight line and have both electric and magnetic components. They are described by Maxwell's equations and have a well-defined polarization. OAM waves, on the other hand, have helical wavefronts and carry angular momentum in addition to energy. They are described by a different set of equations and have a well-defined orbital angular momentum.
Classical EM waves primarily interact with matter through their electric and magnetic fields, causing charges to move and produce currents. OAM waves, on the other hand, interact with matter through the transfer of angular momentum. This can result in different types of interactions, such as torque or rotation of the object.
Yes, classical EM waves and OAM waves have different properties and behaviors, making them useful for different applications. Classical EM waves are commonly used in communication and imaging technologies, while OAM waves have potential applications in quantum computing, optical tweezers, and high-speed data transfer.
Classical EM waves are typically generated by accelerating charges, such as in a radio antenna or a lightbulb. OAM waves, on the other hand, can be generated using specialized devices such as spiral phase plates or holographic masks that manipulate the phase of the wavefront.
Yes, classical EM and OAM waves can coexist and even interact with each other. This has been demonstrated in experiments where OAM waves are generated in the presence of classical EM waves, and the resulting interference patterns show the combined properties of both types of waves.