Motion of macroscopic bodies in the electromagnetic field
Abstract
A theory is presented for calculating the effect of the electromagnetic field on the centre of mass of a macroscopic dielectric body that is valid in both quantum and classical regimes. We apply the theory to find the classical equation of motion for the centre of mass of a macroscopic object in a classical field, and the spreading of an initially localized wave-packet representing the centre of mass of a small object, in a quantum field. The classical force is found to be consistent with the identification of the Abraham momentum with the mechanical momentum of light, and the motion of the wave-packet is found to be subject to an acceleration due to the Casimir force, and a time dependent fluctuating motion due the creation of pairs of excitations within the object. The theory is valid for any dielectric that has susceptibilities satisfying the Kramers-Kronig relations, and is not subject to arguments regarding the form of the electromagnetic energy-momentum tensor within a medium.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1301.4178,
title = {Motion of macroscopic bodies in the electromagnetic field},
author = {S. A. R. Horsley},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1301.4178},
year = {2013}
}
Comments
15 pages, 2 figures