Radiation pressure and momentum transfer in dielectrics: The photon drag effect
- Electronic Systems Engineering, University of Essex, Colchester C04 3SQ (United Kingdom)
The momentum transfer from light to a dielectric material in the photon drag effect is calculated by evaluation of the relevant Lorentz force. In accordance with measurements on Si and Ge, the material is taken as a two-component optical system, with charge carriers described by an extinction coefficient {kappa} in a host semiconductor described by real refractive indices {eta}{sub p} (phase) and {eta}{sub g} (group). The calculated momentum transfer to the charge carriers alone has the value {eta}{sub p}({Dirac_h}/2{pi}){omega}/c per photon, the so-called Minkowski value, found experimentally. The time-dependent Lorentz force is calculated for light in the form of a narrow-band single-photon pulse. When the pulse is much shorter than the attenuation length, which is much shorter than the sample thickness, there is a clear separation in time between surface and bulk contributions to the forces. The total bulk momentum transfer (charges plus host) in this case is found to be ({Dirac_h}/2{pi}){omega}/{eta}{sub g}c, the so-called Abraham value.
- OSTI ID:
- 20717963
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 71; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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