Bateman electromagnetic pulses

Abstract Bateman pulses are defined, and their properties explored in two simple examples. We consider a one-parameter pulse of the Bateman form, and calculate its energy, momentum, angular momentum and chiral content. A comparison of the Bateman pulse is made with two self-dual pulses having similar properties. The one-parameter pulse is shown transformed to its zero-momentum frame. We also discuss two-parameter pulses of the Bateman type. Field line linkage is considered, and shown to not be restricted to Bateman pulses.