Search arXiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · 1706.05493

Optical momentum and angular momentum in complex media: From the Abraham-Minkowski debate to unusual properties of surface plasmon-polaritons

Konstantin Y. Bliokh·Aleksandr Y. Bekshaev·Franco Nori
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

We examine the momentum and angular-momentum (AM) properties of monochromatic optical fields in dispersive and inhomogeneous isotropic media, using the Abraham- and Minkowski-type approaches, as well as the kinetic (Poynting-like) and canonical (with separate spin and orbital degrees of freedom) pictures. While the kinetic Abraham-Poynting momentum describes the energy flux and the group velocity of the wave, the Minkowski-type quantities, with proper dispersion corrections, describe the actual momentum and angular momentum carried by the wave. The kinetic Minkowski-type momentum and AM densities agree with phenomenological results derived by Philbin. Using the canonical spin-orbital decomposition, previously used for free-space fields, we find the corresponding canonical momentum, spin and orbital AM of light in a dispersive inhomogeneous medium. These acquire a very natural form analogous to the Brillouin energy density and are valid for arbitrary structured fields. The general theory is applied to a non-trivial example of a surface plasmon-polariton (SPP) wave at a metal-vacuum interface. We show that the integral momentum of the SPP per particle corresponds to the SPP wave vector, and hence exceeds the momentum of a photon in the vacuum. We also provide the first accurate calculation of the transverse spin and orbital AM of the SPP. While the intrinsic orbital AM vanishes, the transverse spin can change its sign depending on the SPP frequency. Importantly, we present both macroscopic and microscopic calculations, thereby proving the validity of the general phenomenological results. The microscopic theory also predicts a transverse magnetization in the metal (i.e., a magnetic moment for the SPP) as well as the corresponding direct magnetization current, which explains the difference between the Abraham and Minkowski momenta.

Explore related subjects

physics.optics

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Konstantin Y. Bliokh, Aleksandr Y. Bekshaev, Franco Nori. 2017-08-21. Optical momentum and angular momentum in complex media: From the Abraham-Minkowski debate to unusual properties of surface plasmon-polaritons. https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630%2Faa8913

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2026

Selective sparsity-enhanced synchronization in disordered semiconductor laser networks

Biological networks tend to leverage selective sparsity as an economic strategy to optimize function while minimizing wiring costs. In contrast, achieving synchronization in engineered systems such as semiconductor laser arrays is traditionally expected to require resource-intensive coupling %strong connections to overcome intrinsic frequency disorders. We demonstrate that selectively coupled sparse networks can outperform fully connected architectures, achieving near-complete synchronization with a significantly reduced coupling budget. Using an evolutionary algorithm, we identify a ``pairing opposites" principle: optimal structures specifically prioritize connections between oscillators with the largest opposite frequency detuning. This topology neutralizes dynamical interference induced by redundant links, leading to stable synchronization. We formalize this mechanism through a thermodynamic potential framework, mapping time-delayed phase dynamics to an energy landscape where optimal sparsity prunes additional states to stabilize global phase-locking. Furthermore, we show that the optimal connectivity scales inversely with system size. This principle provides a resource-efficient blueprint for synchronizing and stabilizing diverse complex networks, from photonic arrays to neuromorphic hardware.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2026

Super-resolution microscopy via fluctuation-enhanced spatial mode demultiplexing

We introduce a superresolution technique that combines spatial mode demultiplexing (SPADE) with emitter blinking. We show that temporal fluctuations not only enhance the precision of SPADE imaging, but also drastically simplify the measurement required to recover full object information---in the presence of fluctuations, SPADE can be replaced by the much simpler image inversion interferometry. Both gains are enabled by exploiting temporal cumulants of the detected signal. We further show that the proposed fluctuation-enhanced techniques are significantly more robust to dark-count noise than conventional SPADE.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2026

Phase-controlled transport of Floquet-driven compact chiral photonic states

The Aharonov-Bohm (AB) effect remains a cornerstone of fundamental and applied physics. In this work, we utilize the AB caging effect originated from an effective magnetic field induced by multiorbital interactions, creating an all flat band (FB) lattice system. Normally, FB states are known for being compact in space and having a zero tail; therefore, their mobility in a linear environment is generally understood as impossible. We propose a Floquet driving protocol in an all-FB photonic system to fully control the dynamics of localized photonic states. The modulation of the Hamiltonian along the propagation coordinate allows the translation of compact states in the direction of constructive interference, resulting in an effective stroboscopic quantum walk-like effect. We find that the traveling states exist in chiral pairs. We experimentally implement the Floquet driven protocol using femtosecond laser written photonic waveguides and demonstrate directional control of the propagation, determined by the relative phase of the input condition.

physics.optics↗