Optical forces in time domain on arbitrary objects

Abstract

We develop a general theoretical and computational framework to describe, in time domain, the exchange of momentum between light and arbitrary three-dimensional objects. Our formulation can be used to study the time evolution of optical forces on any object with linear material response, including inhomogeneous, dispersive, and absorbing dielectrics and metals. We illustrate our approach by studying the behavior of the Abraham force on an object illuminated by a sequence of electromagnetic pulses. © 2010 The American Physical Society.