The optical helicity in a more algebraic approach to electromagnetism

Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany

^* e-mail: ivan.fernandez-corbaton@kit.edu

Abstract

The constant miniaturization trend in nanophotonics challenges some of the theoretical tools at our disposal: Analytical shortcuts such as the dipolar and paraxial approximation become unapplicable, and the computational cost of fully numerical studies often renders them impractical. A basic electromagnetic property, the optical helicity, and the use of more abstract tools inspired by it, are rising to meet the challenge.