Thermal radiation forces on planar structures with asymmetric optical response

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Deop-Ruano, Juan R., de Abajo, F. Javier García, Manjavacas, Alejandro
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Deop-Ruano, Juan R.
de Abajo, F. Javier García
Manjavacas, Alejandro
author_facet Deop-Ruano, Juan R.
de Abajo, F. Javier García
Manjavacas, Alejandro
contents Light carries momentum and, upon interaction with material structures, can exert forces on them. Here, we show that a planar structure with asymmetric optical response is spontaneously accelerated when placed in an environment at a different temperature. This phenomenon originates from the imbalance in the exchange rates of photons between both sides of the structure and the environment. Using a simple theoretical model, we calculate the force acting on the planar structure and its terminal velocity in vacuum, and analyze their dependence on the initial temperature and the geometrical properties of the system for different realistic materials. Our results unravel an alternative approach to manipulating objects in the nano and microscale that does not require an external source of radiation.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2403_10285
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Thermal radiation forces on planar structures with asymmetric optical response
Deop-Ruano, Juan R.
de Abajo, F. Javier García
Manjavacas, Alejandro
Optics
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Light carries momentum and, upon interaction with material structures, can exert forces on them. Here, we show that a planar structure with asymmetric optical response is spontaneously accelerated when placed in an environment at a different temperature. This phenomenon originates from the imbalance in the exchange rates of photons between both sides of the structure and the environment. Using a simple theoretical model, we calculate the force acting on the planar structure and its terminal velocity in vacuum, and analyze their dependence on the initial temperature and the geometrical properties of the system for different realistic materials. Our results unravel an alternative approach to manipulating objects in the nano and microscale that does not require an external source of radiation.
title Thermal radiation forces on planar structures with asymmetric optical response
topic Optics
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.10285