Theoretical analysis of the force on the end face of a nano-filament exerted by an outgoing light pulse

TL;DR

This paper provides a theoretical analysis of the force exerted on a nano-filament's end face by an outgoing light pulse, revealing a net pull force due to electromagnetic and Lorentz forces.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive numerical model that accounts for electromagnetic momentum and Lorentz forces to analyze light-matter interactions in nano-filaments.

Findings

Short light pulses exert a net pull force on the nano-filament end face.

The analysis accounts for electromagnetic momentum inside and outside the filament.

The model predicts observable deformations related to light momentum transfer.

Abstract

The slight deformations observed upon transmission of a light pulse through a short length of a silica glass nano-filament offer the possibility of determining the momentum of light inside the filament. Using precise numerical calculations that take into account not only the electromagnetic momentum inside and outside the filament, but also the Lorentz force exerted by a light pulse in its entire path through the nano-waveguide, we conclude that the net effect of a short pulse exiting the nano-filament should be a pull force on the end face of the filament.