We propose a quantum theory of rotating light beams and study some of its properties. Such beams are polychromatic and have either a slowly rotating polarization or a slowly rotating transverse mode pattern. We show that there are, for both cases, three different natural types of modes that qualify as rotating, one of which is a type not previously considered. We discuss differences between these three types of rotating modes on the one hand and nonrotating modes as viewed from a rotating frame of reference on the other. We present various examples illustrating the possible use of rotating photons, mostly for quantum information processing purposes. We introduce in this context a rotating version of the two-photon singlet state.

• Received 23 July 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.76.053825