What is wrong with the interpretation of recent nano-filament experiments?
arXiv:1208.3669 · doi:10.1117/12.825496
Abstract
In a recent paper, W. She, J. Yu and R. Feng reported the slight deformations observed upon transmission of a light pulse through a short length of a silica glass nano-filament. Relating the shape and magnitude of these deformations to the momentum of the light pulse inside and outside the filament, these authors concluded that, within the fiber, the photons carry the Abraham momentum. We present an alternative evaluation of force and momentum in a system similar to the experimental setup of She et al. Using precise numerical calculations that take into account not only the electromagnetic momentum inside and outside the filament, but also the Lorentz force exerted by a light pulse in its entire path through the nano-waveguide, we conclude that the net effect should be a pull (rather than a push) force on the end face of the nano-filament.
12 pages, 7 figures, 13 equations,7 references. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1208.3280
References in corpus (4)
- Momentum of an electromagnetic wave in dielectric media
- 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
- Maxwell's macroscopic equations, the energy-momentum postulates, and the Lorentz law of force