https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00021596
The geometric phase in photon systems
Department of Physics, Shanghai Teachers University, Shanghai 200234, P.R. China
and
The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, 34014 Trieste,
Italy
Received:
24
August
1998
Accepted:
30
October
1998
Published online: 15 March 1999
By using the Maxwell equations in a Schrödinger-like form, the geometric phase in photon systems is calculated. This approach provides a unified way to discuss geometric phases in both photon (massless) and other massive particle systems. The concept of parameter space is not introduced in our discussion. So all complications caused by it can be avoided. In principle, this approach can used to calculate the geometric phase in any cyclic evolution of photon systems.
PACS: 03.65.Bz – Foundations, theory of measurement, miscellaneous theories (including Aharonov-Bohm effect, Bell inequalities, Berry's phase) / 41.20.Bt – Maxwell equations, time-varying fields, conservation laws / 42.90.+m – Other topics in optics
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 1999
