Table of contents Introduction Biographies…… 355 Abraham(1875-1922) Minkowski(1864-1909) Theory……… The abraham and minkowski tensors Radiation Pressure Momentum of light Poynting Vector Pseudomomentum 7788999 Tensors Einstein's box The proponents… 10 Alternative theories 15 Experimental Work 17 Early Experiments 17 17 Jones and richards Jones and lesli Ashkin and dziedzic 20 Walker Lahoz and Walker 20 The problem with experiments 21 uture Experimental work conc| usIon∴n 22 References:∴ Introduction For nearly 100 years physicists and mathematicians have been debating the correct form of the energy-momentum tensor required to describe the behaviour of The two main 'competing theories during this time have been those proposed b u light at the interface between two dielectric materials of different refractive indice Minkowski(1908)[1] and Abraham(1909)[2]. Put simply, the dilemma is whether the momentum of a photon in a medium is equal to nnk Minkowski) or nk/n (Abraham), where n is the refractive index of the material, h is Planck's constant divided by 2T, and k is the wavevector3 Table of Contents Introduction...................................................................................3 Biographies...................................................................................5 Abraham (1875 –1922)................................................................................ 5 Minkowski (1864—1909) ............................................................................. 6 Theory............................................................................................7 The Abraham and Minkowski tensors.......................................................... 7 Radiation Pressure ...................................................................................... 8 Momentum of light ....................................................................................... 8 Poynting Vector ........................................................................................... 9 Pseudomomentum....................................................................................... 9 Tensors........................................................................................................ 9 Einstein’s box............................................................................................. 10 The proponents...........................................................................10 Alternative theories ....................................................................15 Experimental Work .....................................................................17 Early Experiments...................................................................................... 17 G. Barlow................................................................................................... 17 Jones and Richards ................................................................................... 18 Jones and Leslie........................................................................................ 19 Ashkin and Dziedzic .................................................................................. 20 Walker, Lahoz and Walker......................................................................... 20 The problem with experiments................................................................... 21 Future Experimental work.......................................................................... 22 Conclusion ..................................................................................22 References: .................................................................................23 Introduction For nearly 100 years physicists and mathematicians have been debating the correct form of the energy-momentum tensor required to describe the behaviour of light at the interface between two dielectric materials of different refractive indices. The two main ‘competing’ theories during this time have been those proposed by Minkowski (1908) [1] and Abraham (1909) [2]. Put simply, the dilemma is whether the momentum of a photon in a medium is equal to nħk (Minkowski) or ħk/n (Abraham), where n is the refractive index of the material, ħ is Planck’s constant divided by 2π, and k is the wavevector