Phys. Rev. A 67, 062114 (2003) [8 pages]Vortex lines of the electromagnetic fieldReceived 3 December 2002; published 30 June 2003 Relativistic definition of the phase of the electromagnetic field, involving two Lorentz invariants, based on the Riemann-Silberstein vector is adopted to extend our previous study [I. Bialynicki-Birula, Z. Bialynicka-Birula, and C. Śliwa, Phys. Rev. A 61, 032110 (2000)] of the motion of vortex lines embedded in the solutions of wave equations from Schrödinger wave mechanics to Maxwell theory. It is shown that time evolution of vortex lines has universal features; in Maxwell theory it is very similar to that in Schrödinger wave mechanics. Connection with some early work on geometrodynamics is established. Simple examples of solutions of the Maxwell equations with embedded vortex lines are given. Vortex lines in the Laguerre-Gaussian beams are treated in some detail. © 2003 The American Physical Society URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevA.67.062114
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevA.67.062114
PACS:
03.65.Vf, 03.50.De, 42.25.-p, 41.20.Jb
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