Division of the momentum of electromagnetic waves in linear media into electromagnetic and material parts

Abstract

It is proposed a natural and consistent division of the momentum of electromagnetic waves in linear, non-dispersive and non-absorptive dielectric and magnetic media into material and electromagnetic parts. The material part is calculated using directly the Lorentz force law and the electromagnetic momentum density has the same form than in vacuum, without an explicit dependence on the properties of the media. The consistency of the treatment is verified through the obtention of a correct momentum balance equation in many examples and showing the compatibility of the division with the Einstein's theory of relativity by the use of a gedanken experiment. An experimental prediction for the radiation pressure on mirrors immersed in linear dielectric and magnetic media is also made.

7 pages, 2 figures. The text suffered small changes. Some references were added

References in corpus (8)

• Radiation pressure and the linear momentum of the electromagnetic field
• Observation of a push force on the end face of a nm fiber taper exerted by outgoing light
• Momentum exchange between light and a single atom: Abraham or Minkowski?
• Radiation pressure and the linear momentum of the electromagnetic field in magnetic media
• Comment on "Observation of a push force on the end face of a nanometer silica filament exerted by outgoing light," Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 243601 (2008)
• Radiation Pressure on Submerged Mirrors: Implications for the Momentum of Light in Dielectric Media
• Theoretical analysis of the force on the end face of a nano-filament exerted by an outgoing light pulse
• Constraining Validity of the Minkowski Energy-Momentum Tensor

Cited by in corpus (19)

• Axiomatic geometrical optics, Abraham-Minkowski controversy, and photon properties derived classically
• First principles approach to the Abraham-Minkowski controversy for the momentum of light in general linear non-dispersive media
• Relativistic analysis of the dielectric Einstein box: Abraham, Minkowski and total energy-momentum tensors
• Comment on "Trouble with the Lorentz Law of Force: Incompatibility with Special Relativity and Momentum Conservation"
• Detection of the Abraham force with a succession of short optical pulses
• Nature of Electric and Magnetic Dipoles Gleaned from the Poynting Theorem and the Lorentz Force Law of Classical Electrodynamics
• Interaction between light and matter: A photon wave function approach
• On the Foundational Equations of the Classical Theory of Electrodynamics
• Division of the Energy and of the Momentum of Electromagnetic Waves in Linear Media into Electromagnetic and Material Parts
• Hidden momentum and the Abraham-Minkowski debate
• Hidden momentum in continuous media and the Abraham-Minkowski debate
• Energy and momentum entanglement in parametric downconversion
• Trouble with the Lorentz Law of Force: Response to Critics
• Hidden momentum in a hydrogen atom and the Lorentz force law
• A new form of the energy-momentum tensor of the interaction of an electromagnetic field with a non-conducting medium. The wave equations. The electromagnetic forces
• Recoil momentum of an atom absorbing light in a gaseous medium and the Abraham-Minkowski debate
• Energy and momentum conservation upon reflection of a solitary pulse in a bounded magnetized plasma
• Equation for the Abraham force in non-conducting medium and methods for its measurement
• About conservation the angular momentum for asymmetric tensors in electrodynamics