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Universal Thermal Radiation Drag on Neutral Objects

Vanik Mkrtchian, V. Adrian Parsegian, Rudi Podgornik, and Wayne M. Saslow
Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 220801 – Published 25 November 2003
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Abstract

We compute the force on a small neutral polarizable object moving at velocity relative to a photon gas equilibrated at a temperature . We find a drag force linear in . Its physical basis is related to that in recent formulations of the dissipative component of the Casimir force, i.e., the change in photon momentum in emission and absorption between the moving body and the stationary thermal bath. We estimate the strength of this universal drag force for different dielectric response functions and comment on its relevance in various contexts, especially to radiation-matter coupling in the cosmos.

  • Figure
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  • Received 6 August 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.91.220801

Authors & Affiliations

Vanik Mkrtchian1, V. Adrian Parsegian2, Rudi Podgornik2,3, and Wayne M. Saslow4

  • 1Institute for Physical Research, Armenian Academy of Sciences, 378410 Ashtarak-2, Armenia
  • 2Laboratory of Structural and Physical Biology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-5626, USA
  • 3Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana, Jadranska 19, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
  • 4Department of Physics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77840-4242, USA

Comments & Replies

Comment on “Universal Thermal Radiation Drag on Neutral Objects”

P. A. Maia Neto and C. Farina
Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 059001 (2004)

Mkrtchian et al. Reply

Vanik Mkrtchian, V. Adrian Parsegian, Rudi Podgornik, and Wayne M. Saslow
Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 059002 (2004)

See Also

Photons Are a Drag

Kim Krieger
Phys. Rev. Focus 12, 22 (2003)

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Issue

Vol. 91, Iss. 22 — 28 November 2003

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