Transverse energy flows in vectorial fields of paraxial beams with singularities

A general study of transverse energy flows (TEF) as physically meaningful and informative characteristics of paraxial light beams' spatial structure is presented. The total TEF can be decomposed into the spin and orbital contributions giving rise to the spin and orbital angular momentums, correspondingly. Definitions and properties of these constituents are discussed in relation with the optical field representation through linear and circular orthogonal polarization bases. With the help of model examples, the results are applied to investigation of TEF singularities in connection with the usual polarization morphology characteristics of paraxial optical fields. An analysis of TEFs near singular points has been carried out; in particular, the behavior of TEF and its partial contributions near polarization singularities (C-points) has demonstrated the special role of a boundary flow in the origin of the spin angular momentum. The analytical and experimental applicability of the introduced concepts are discussed. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.