Relativistic quantum-mechanical description of twisted paraxial electron and photon beams

Abstract: The analysis of twisted (vortex) paraxial photons and electrons is fulfilled in the framework of relativistic quantum mechanics. The use of the Foldy-Wouthuysen representation radically simplifies a description of relativistic electrons and clarifies fundamental properties of twisted particles. It is demonstrated that the twisted photon defined by the Laguerre-Gauss wave function is luminal. Its apparent subluminality takes place because the photon energy is contributed by the hidden transversal motion while the average transversal momentum vanishes. Nevertheless, the Laguerre-Gauss photon can be self-consistently modeled by a subluminal centroid with a nonzero kinematic (Lorentz-invariant) mass. An applicability of this model is a consequence of independence of centroid parameters from the longitudinal coordinate. All twisted and untwisted Laguerre-Gauss modes are subliminal. The Laguerre-Gauss electron has similar properties. The new effect of a quantization of the velocity and mass of the Laguerre-Gauss photon and electron is predicted. This effect is observable for the photon. The twisted photon and electron modeled by the centroids are considered in the general noninertial frame. Their inertial masses coinciding with kinematic ones are determined. The orbital magnetic moment of the Laguerre-Gauss electron does not depend on the radial quantum number.