Tailoring radiation pressure on infinite slab using pair of non-collinear plane waves

TL;DR

This paper develops a theory to control local radiation pressure on dielectric and chiral slabs using two non-collinear plane waves, revealing conditions for positive and negative forces that depend on incidence angle, polarization, and chirality.

Contribution

It introduces the first theoretical framework describing local radiation pressure from interference of two oblique plane waves on slabs, including chiral media.

Findings

Radiation pressure varies locally with oblique incidence and polarization.

Normal incidence results in uniform radiation pressure across the slab.

The theory aligns with conservation laws at all incident angles.

Abstract

The electromagnetic field exerts radiation pressure on the matter and tends to move it either in the backward or forward direction due to net optical pulling or pushing force, respectively. In this work, we reveal an interesting phenomenon of a local positive and negative radiation pressure on a dielectric (chiral) slab by using two linearly (circularly) polarized plane waves. In this regard, we develop for the first time, a theory to describe the local radiation pressure appearing due to the interference between the two obliquely impinging (non-collinear) light sources. Under this {situation}, the radiation pressure strongly depends on the angle of incidence, the polarization of the electromagnetic field and the chirality parameters of the slab (in the case of chiral medium). Our numerical analysis shows that the radiation pressure, exerted on a dielectric or a chiral slab due to the two incident plane waves, is constant over the slab for normal incidence, and it varies locally for an oblique incidence, which indeed follows the conservation laws at all incident angles. It is expected that the results may find fruitful applications in optical manipulation of soft matters, for instance, cell membranes, chiral surfaces and other soft materials