Radiation pressure
- Author:
- Luca Moroni
This simplified model can explain qualitatively the pressure of a E-M wave on a conductive plate.
The electric field E induces on the electrons the drift velocity vd (opposite to E)
The magnetic field B and vd will produce the Lorentz force FL=− e vd ⊗ B
and since B and vd oscillate synchronously, FL will always be directed in the positive direction of the z-axis.
For example, the pressure of the the sun's radiation on an absorbing conductive plate positioned nearby the earth (facing the sun) would be about 4.5 μPa . Not much but it's there...
References:
Halliday-Resnick-Krane, Physics, 5th ed. vol.2 p. 872
T. Rothman, S. Boughn: The Lorentz Force and the Radiation Pressure of Light
https://arxiv.org/abs/0807.1310
C. Mungan: Repairing an elementary explanation of radiation pressure
T. Rothman, S. Boughn: Reply to "Repairing an Elementary Explanation of Radiation Pressure"