Momentum paradox in a vortex core

Abstract

The identification of angular momentum lh per photon with optical vortices of charge l appears to require that the field amplitude be zero within a finite distance of the vortex. This, however, is not compatible with the known form of beams such as the Laguerre Gaussian and Bessel beams. We resolve this paradox by analysing the propagation of a Bessel beam through a small circular aperture, showing that the resulting field has evanescent components.