The method of Fourier transforms applied to electromagnetic knots

Abstract

The Fourier transform method can be applied to obtain electromagnetic knots, which are solutions of Maxwell equations in vacuum with non-trivial topology of the field lines and especial properties. The program followed in this work allows to present the main ideas and the explicit calculations at undergraduate level, so they are not obscured by a more involved formulation. We make use of helicity basis for calculating the electromagnetic helicity and the photon content of the fields.