Angular Momentum of a Photon

Most recent answer: 02/25/2012

Q:
Take a photon, for instance. Is there a theoretical limit to its angular momentum?
- Bill H (age 55)
Michigan
A:
The intrinsic angular momentum of a photon is restricted to plus or minus one in Planck units, h-bar = 6.58×10−16 eV·sec.   In addition it can carry angular momentum with respect to a fixed point given by its momentum, E/c,  times its distance r.   This latter angular momentum has no limit. 

LeeH

In Lee's line of work they use units like eV-sec. For those with a more refined esthetic sense, the SI value is 1.05
×10-34 J-s and the cgs value is 1.054 ×10-27 erg-s Mike W.

(published on 02/25/2012)