Two Controversies in Classical Electromagnetism

Pfeifer, R. N. C., Nieminen, T. A., Heckenberg, N. R. and Rubinsztein-Dunlop, H. (2006). Two Controversies in Classical Electromagnetism. In: Kishan Dholakia and Gabriel C. Spalding, Proceedings of SPIE. Optical Trapping and Optical Micromanipulation III, San Diego, CA, USA, (63260H-1-63260H-8). Sunday 13 August 2006.

 
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Author(s) Pfeifer, R. N. C.
Nieminen, T. A.
Heckenberg, N. R.
Rubinsztein-Dunlop, H.
Title of paper Two Controversies in Classical Electromagnetism
Conference name Optical Trapping and Optical Micromanipulation III
Conference location San Diego, CA, USA
Conference dates Sunday 13 August 2006
Proceedings title Proceedings of SPIE
Editor(s) Kishan Dholakia
Gabriel C. Spalding
Place published United States
Publisher S P I E - International Society of Optical Engineering
Publication date 2006
Volume number 6326
ISSN 1605-7422
Start page 63260H-1
End page 63260H-8
Total pages 8
Language eng
Abstract/Summary This paper examines two controversies arising within classical electromagnetism which are relevant to the optical trapping and micromanipulation community. First is the Abraham-Minkowski controversy, a debate relating to the form of the electromagnetic energy momentum tensor in dielectric materials, with implications for the momentum of a photon in dielectric media. A wide range of alternatives exist, and experiments are frequently proposed to attempt to discriminate between them. We explain the resolution of this controversy and show that regardless of the electromagnetic energy momentum tensor chosen, when material disturbances are also taken into account the predicted behaviour will always be the same. The second controversy, known as the plane wave angular momentum paradox, relates to the distribution of angular momentum within an electromagnetic wave. The two competing formulations are reviewed, and an experiment is discussed which is capable of distinguishing between the two.
Subjects 240504 Electrostatics and Electrodynamics
Keyword(s) Abraham-Minkowski controversy
Khrapko's paradox
photon momentum
electromagnetic momentum
angular momentum
optical tweezers
 
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.678953  
Go to link with your UQ access privileges		 Article DOI - full text from publisher  
http://www.spie.org/Publications/index.cfm?Fuseaction=proceedings  
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