On diffraction within a dielectric medium as an example of the Minkowski formulation of optical momentum
Optics Express, Vol. 16, Issue 25, pp. 20864-20868 (2008)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.16.020864
Acrobat PDF (107 KB)
Abstract
The Abraham-Minkowski dilemma relates to the disputed value of the optical momentum within a dielectric medium and whether the free-space value should be divided (Abraham) or multiplied (Minkowski) by the refractive index. Although undoubtedly simplistic, these two approaches provide intuitive insight to many subtle problems in optical physics. This paper reviews a modified version of the Einstein box argument that supports an Abraham formulation, then considers diffraction within a dielectric medium and shows it supports a simple Minkowski formulation, i.e. that the optical momentum should be multiplied by the refractive index.
© 2008 Optical Society of America
1. Introduction
I. Brevik, “Experiments in phenomenological electrodynamics and the electromagnetic energy-momentum tensor,” Phys. Rep. 52, 133–201 (1979). [CrossRef]
D. Nelson, “Momentum, pseudomomentum, and wave momentum - toward resolving the Minkowski-Abraham controversy,” Phys. Rev. A 44, 3985–3996 (1991). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
M. Mansuripur, “Radiation pressure and the linear momentum of the electromagnetic field,” Opt. Express 12, 5375–5401 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
U. Leonhardt, “Optics: Momentum in an uncertain light,” Nature 444, 823–824 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
R. N. C. Pfeifer, T. A. Nieminen, N. R. Heckenberg, and H. Rubinsztein-Dunlop, “Colloquium: Momentum of an electromagnetic wave in dielectric media,” Rev. Mod. Phys. 79, 1197–1216 (2007). [CrossRef]
I. Brevik, “Experiments in phenomenological electrodynamics and the electromagnetic energy-momentum tensor,” Phys. Rep. 52, 133–201 (1979). [CrossRef]
A. Einstein, “The principle of conservation of the centre of gravity movement and the inertia of energy,” Ann. Phys. 20, 627–633 (1906). [CrossRef]
I. Brevik, “Experiments in phenomenological electrodynamics and the electromagnetic energy-momentum tensor,” Phys. Rep. 52, 133–201 (1979). [CrossRef]
2. The Einstein Box revisited
I. Brevik, “Phenomenological photons and the uncertainty principle,” Eur. J. Phys. 2, 37–43 (1981). [CrossRef]
R. N. C. Pfeifer, T. A. Nieminen, N. R. Heckenberg, and H. Rubinsztein-Dunlop, “Colloquium: Momentum of an electromagnetic wave in dielectric media,” Rev. Mod. Phys. 79, 1197–1216 (2007). [CrossRef]
T. F. Krauss, “Slow light in photonic crystal waveguides,” J. Phys. D 40, 2666–2670 (2007) [CrossRef]
I. Brevik, “Phenomenological photons and the uncertainty principle,” Eur. J. Phys. 2, 37–43 (1981). [CrossRef]
3. Conclusion and Discussion
G. K. Campbell, A. E. Leanhardt, J. Mun, M. Boyd, E. W. Streed, W. Ketterle, and D. E. Pritchard, “Photon Recoil Momentum in Dispersive Media,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 94,170403 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
J. Guck, R. Ananthakrishnan, H. Mahmood, T. Moon, C. Cunningham, and J. Kas, “The optical stretcher: A novel laser tool to micromanipulate cells,” Biophys. J. 81, 767–784 (2001). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
A. Gibson, M. Kimmitt, and A. Walker, “Photon drag in germanium,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 17, 75–77 (1970). [CrossRef]
R. Loudon, S. Barnett, and C. Baxter, “Radiation pressure and momentum transfer in dielectrics: The photon drag effect,” Phys. Rev. A 71, 063802 (2005). [CrossRef]
M. Kristensen and J. P. Woerdman, “Is photon angular momentum conserved in a dielectric medium?” Phys. Rev. Lett. 72, 2171–2174 (1994). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
R. Loudon, “Theory of the radiation pressure on dielectric surfaces,” J. Mod. Opt. 49, 821–838 (2002). [CrossRef]
R. Loudon and S. M. Barnett, “Theory of the radiation pressure on dielectric slabs, prisms and single surfaces,” Opt. Express 14, 11855–11869 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
R. Loudon, “Theory of the forces exerted by Laguerre-Gaussian light beams on dielectrics,” Phys. Rev. A 68, 013806 (2003). [CrossRef]
R. Jones and B. Leslie, “The Measurement of Optical Radiation Pressure in Dispersive Media,” Proc. Roy. Soc. London A 360, 347–363 (1978). [CrossRef]
M. Mansuripur, “Radiation pressure on submerged mirrors: Implications for the momentum of light in dielectric media,” Opt. Express 15, 2677–2682 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
S. M. Barnett and R. Loudon, “On the electromagnetic force on a dielectric medium,” J. Phys. B 39, S671–S684 (2006). [CrossRef]
Acknowledgments
References and links
I. Brevik, “Experiments in phenomenological electrodynamics and the electromagnetic energy-momentum tensor,” Phys. Rep. 52, 133–201 (1979). [CrossRef] | |
D. Nelson, “Momentum, pseudomomentum, and wave momentum - toward resolving the Minkowski-Abraham controversy,” Phys. Rev. A 44, 3985–3996 (1991). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
M. Mansuripur, “Radiation pressure and the linear momentum of the electromagnetic field,” Opt. Express 12, 5375–5401 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
U. Leonhardt, “Optics: Momentum in an uncertain light,” Nature 444, 823–824 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
R. N. C. Pfeifer, T. A. Nieminen, N. R. Heckenberg, and H. Rubinsztein-Dunlop, “Colloquium: Momentum of an electromagnetic wave in dielectric media,” Rev. Mod. Phys. 79, 1197–1216 (2007). [CrossRef] | |
A. Einstein, “The principle of conservation of the centre of gravity movement and the inertia of energy,” Ann. Phys. 20, 627–633 (1906). [CrossRef] | |
S. Weinberg, “Gravitation and Cosmology: Principles and Applications of the General Theory” p. 46 (1972). | |
H. Minkowski, Nachr. Ges. Wiss. Göttn Math.-Phys. Kl. 53, 472–525 (1908). | |
I. Brevik, “Phenomenological photons and the uncertainty principle,” Eur. J. Phys. 2, 37–43 (1981). [CrossRef] | |
T. F. Krauss, “Slow light in photonic crystal waveguides,” J. Phys. D 40, 2666–2670 (2007) [CrossRef] | |
G. K. Campbell, A. E. Leanhardt, J. Mun, M. Boyd, E. W. Streed, W. Ketterle, and D. E. Pritchard, “Photon Recoil Momentum in Dispersive Media,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 94,170403 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
J. Guck, R. Ananthakrishnan, H. Mahmood, T. Moon, C. Cunningham, and J. Kas, “The optical stretcher: A novel laser tool to micromanipulate cells,” Biophys. J. 81, 767–784 (2001). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
A. Gibson, M. Kimmitt, and A. Walker, “Photon drag in germanium,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 17, 75–77 (1970). [CrossRef] | |
R. Loudon, S. Barnett, and C. Baxter, “Radiation pressure and momentum transfer in dielectrics: The photon drag effect,” Phys. Rev. A 71, 063802 (2005). [CrossRef] | |
M. Kristensen and J. P. Woerdman, “Is photon angular momentum conserved in a dielectric medium?” Phys. Rev. Lett. 72, 2171–2174 (1994). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
R. Loudon, “Theory of the radiation pressure on dielectric surfaces,” J. Mod. Opt. 49, 821–838 (2002). [CrossRef] | |
R. Loudon and S. M. Barnett, “Theory of the radiation pressure on dielectric slabs, prisms and single surfaces,” Opt. Express 14, 11855–11869 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
M. Padgett, S. Barnett, and R. Loudon, “The angular momentum of light inside a dielectric,” J. Mod. Opt. 50, 1555–1562 (2003). | |
R. Loudon, “Theory of the forces exerted by Laguerre-Gaussian light beams on dielectrics,” Phys. Rev. A 68, 013806 (2003). [CrossRef] | |
R. Jones and B. Leslie, “The Measurement of Optical Radiation Pressure in Dispersive Media,” Proc. Roy. Soc. London A 360, 347–363 (1978). [CrossRef] | |
W. She, J. Yu, and R. Feng, “Observation of a push force on the end face of a nm fiber taper exerted by outgoing light,” arXiv:0806.2442v1 | |
M. Mansuripur, “Radiation pressure on submerged mirrors: Implications for the momentum of light in dielectric media,” Opt. Express 15, 2677–2682 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
S. M. Barnett and R. Loudon, “On the electromagnetic force on a dielectric medium,” J. Phys. B 39, S671–S684 (2006). [CrossRef] |
OCIS Codes
(050.1940) Diffraction and gratings : Diffraction
(260.2110) Physical optics : Electromagnetic optics
ToC Category:
Diffraction and Gratings
History
Original Manuscript: October 8, 2008
Revised Manuscript: November 13, 2008
Manuscript Accepted: November 20, 2008
Published: December 2, 2008
Citation
Miles J. Padgett, "On diffraction within a dielectric
medium as an example of the Minkowski
formulation of optical momentum," Opt. Express 16, 20864-20868 (2008)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-16-25-20864
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References
- I. Brevik, "Experiments in phenomenological electrodynamics and the electromagnetic energy-momentum tensor," Phys. Rep. 52, 133-201 (1979). [CrossRef]
- D. Nelson, "Momentum, pseudomomentum, and wave momentum - toward resolving the Minkowski-Abraham controversy," Phys. Rev. A 44, 3985-3996 (1991). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- M. Mansuripur, "Radiation pressure and the linear momentum of the electromagnetic field," Opt. Express 12, 5375-5401 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- U. Leonhardt, "Optics: Momentum in an uncertain light," Nature 444, 823-824 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- R. N. C. Pfeifer, T. A. Nieminen, N. R. Heckenberg, and H. Rubinsztein-Dunlop, "Colloquium: Momentum of an electromagnetic wave in dielectric media," Rev. Mod. Phys. 79, 1197-1216 (2007). [CrossRef]
- M. Abraham, Rend. Circ. Matem. Palermo 28, 1 (1909).
- A. Einstein, "The principle of conservation of the centre of gravity movement and the inertia of energy," Ann. Phys. 20, 627-633 (1906). [CrossRef]
- S. Weinberg, "Gravitation and Cosmology: Principles and Applications of the General Theory, " p. 46 (1972).
- H. Minkowski, Nachr. Ges. Wiss. Gottn Math.-Phys. Kl. 53, 472-525 (1908).
- I. Brevik, "Phenomenological photons and the uncertainty principle," Eur. J. Phys. 2, 37-43 (1981). [CrossRef]
- T. F. Krauss, "Slow light in photonic crystal waveguides," J. Phys. D 40, 2666-2670 (2007) [CrossRef]
- G. K. Campbell, A. E. Leanhardt, J. Mun, M. Boyd, E. W. Streed, W. Ketterle, and D. E. Pritchard, "Photon Recoil Momentum in Dispersive Media," Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 170403 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- J. Guck, R. Ananthakrishnan, H. Mahmood, T. Moon, C. Cunningham, and J. Kas, "The optical stretcher: A novel laser tool to micromanipulate cells," Biophys. J. 81, 767-784 (2001). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- A. Gibson, M. Kimmitt, and A. Walker, "Photon drag in germanium," Appl. Phys. Lett. 17, 75-77 (1970). [CrossRef]
- R. Loudon, S. Barnett, and C. Baxter, "Radiation pressure and momentum transfer in dielectrics: The photon drag effect," Phys. Rev. A 71, 063802 (2005). [CrossRef]
- M. Kristensen and J. P. Woerdman, "Is photon angular momentum conserved in a dielectric medium?" Phys. Rev. Lett. 72, 2171-2174 (1994). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- R. Loudon, "Theory of the radiation pressure on dielectric surfaces," J. Mod. Opt. 49, 821-838 (2002). [CrossRef]
- R. Loudon and S. M. Barnett, "Theory of the radiation pressure on dielectric slabs, prisms and single surfaces," Opt. Express 14, 11855-11869 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- M. Padgett, S. Barnett, and R. Loudon, "The angular momentum of light inside a dielectric," J. Mod. Opt. 50, 1555-1562 (2003).
- R. Loudon, "Theory of the forces exerted by Laguerre-Gaussian light beams on dielectrics," Phys. Rev. A 68, 013806 (2003). [CrossRef]
- R. Jones and B. Leslie, "The Measurement of Optical Radiation Pressure in Dispersive Media," Proc. Roy. Soc. London A 360, 347-363 (1978). [CrossRef]
- W. She, J. Yu, and R. Feng, "Observation of a push force on the end face of a nm fiber taper exerted by outgoing light," arXiv:0806.2442v1
- M. Mansuripur, "Radiation pressure on submerged mirrors: Implications for the momentum of light in dielectric media," Opt. Express 15, 2677-2682 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- S. M. Barnett and R. Loudon, "On the electromagnetic force on a dielectric medium," J. Phys. B 39, S671-S684 (2006). [CrossRef]
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