On the Attraction of Matter by the Ponderomotive Miller Force

TL;DR

This paper explores the application of the ponderomotive Miller force, an electromagnetic wave-induced attraction mechanism, to solid-state plasmas, supported by theoretical analysis and experimental validation showing wave-induced forces on solids.

Contribution

It extends the understanding of the Miller force from gaseous to solid-state plasmas, providing qualitative theory and experimental comparison for wave-induced attraction in solids.

Findings

Good agreement between theory and Cavendish vacuum experiments.

Wave pressure gradient causes measurable forces on solid bodies.

Simulation confirms wave-induced attraction effects.

Abstract

Wave induced attraction of matter is a unique aspect of ponderomotive forcing by electromagnetic (e/m) waves in plasmas. The Miller force, sometimes denoted the gradient force, is of particular interest, because the direction as well as magnitude of the Miller force on a plasma depends on the wave frequency. While plasma is usually considered in its gaseous form, solid bodies can also be treated as plasma, denoted solid-state plasma. The first experimental proof of wave effects in magnetized solid-state plasmas (Lundqvist, 1949, Herlofson, 1950) came after the suggestion by Alfv\'en (1942) on the possible existence of magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) waves. However, most of our knowledge basis on MHD/Alfv\'en waves have since then emerged from space- and laboratory (gaseous) plasmas. It is therefore timely to investigate further the applicability of e/m wave ponderomotive forcing on solid-state plasma. In this report we discuss the applicability of the ponderomotive Miller force on solid-state plasmas. At this stage the treatise will be rather qualitative, based on theories developed for space plasma. We assume that e/m wave energy and momentum is transferred in a thin surface layer constituting solid-state plasma. A Miller force results from the wave pressure gradient set up in the surface layer. Since the solid body constitute a coupled system (lattice), the Miller force will act on all atoms in the body, the total force limited by the wave input power. A quantitative comparison with experimental results obtained from a Cavendish vacuum experiment (Lidgren and Lundin, 2010) gives a surprisingly good agreement between theory and experiments. As further proof for e/m wave attraction of matter, we show a simulation, taking into account the measured pendulum offsets.