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METHODOLOGICAL NOTES

Energy, momentum and mass transfer by an electromagnetic wave in a negative refraction medium

V. G. Veselago<sup>ab

a</sup> A. M. Prokhorov General Physics Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences
^b Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University)

Abstract: The problem of photon momentum in a refracting medium is discussed. For the particular case of a negative refraction medium it is shown that the relation $P=\hbar k$ and $\Delta M=E/c^2$ cannot hold simultaneously and that light pressure is replaced by light attraction. It is also shown that the Abraham energy-momentum tensor is not in fact a tensor because of its lack of relativistic invariance.

PACS: 03.50.De, 41.20.Jb, 42.25.Bs

Received: December 26, 2008
Revised: April 22, 2009

DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0179.200906j.0689

 English version: Physics–Uspekhi, 2009, 52:6, 649–654

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