  A direct calculation of the elements of the photon polarization vector for
arbitrary momentum in the helicity basis shows that it is not a vector but a
complex bivector. The bivector real and imaginary parts can be directly equated
with electromagnetic field amplitudes and the associated field equations are
the Maxwell equations in time-imaginary space. The bivector field exhibits a
phase freedom (Berry, or geometric phase) dependent on the rotation history of
the field or observer. Phase freedom is not intrinsically present in the
longitudinal excitations of the field and a general argument connects
quantization of angular momentum with the observation of phase changes
associated with frame rotation. Current and translation operators can be
defined for bivector fields that are free of defects associated with a
quantized vector potential.
