2026-07-072026-07-07http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/87026By means of the Helmholtz theorem on the decomposition of vector fields, the angular momentum of the classical electromagnetic field is decomposed, in a general and manifestly gauge invariant manner, into a spin component and an orbital component. The method is applied to linearly and circularly polarized plane waves in their classical and quantum forms.15 pages references updated typos correctedOpticsClassical Physicstext