Remarks on the Abraham-Minkowski problem, from the formal and from the experimental side

Abstract

We analyze the Abraham-Minkowski problem known from classical electrodynamics from two different perspectives. First, we follow a formal approach, implying use of manifolds with curved space sections in accordance with Fermat's principle, emphasizing that the resulting covariant and contravariant components of the photon four-momentum is a property linked to the {\it Minkowski} theory only. There is thus no link to the Abraham theory in that context. Next we turn to the experimental side, giving a brief account of older and newer radiation pressure experiments that clearly show how the Minkowski photon momentum is preferable under optical conditions. Under low-frequency conditions, where experimental detection of the individual oscillations predicted by the Abraham term are possible, the picture is however quite different.

13 pages, no figures

References in corpus (3)

• Electromagnetic energy and momentum in moving media
• Minkowski Momentum Resulting from a Vacuum-Medium Mapping Procedure, and a Brief Review of Minkowski Momentum Experiments
• Hidden momentum in continuous media and the Abraham-Minkowski debate

Cited by in corpus (1)

• Axion electrodynamics: Energy-momentum tensor, and possibilities for experimental tests