Feigel effect: Extraction of momentum from vacuum?
The Green-function formalism for the electromagnetic field in a magnetoelectric (ME) medium is constructed as a generalization of conventional Casimir theory. Zero temperature is assumed. It is shown how the formalism predicts electromagnetic momentum to be extracted from the vacuum field, just analogous to how energy is extracted in the Casimir case. The possibility of extracting momentum from vacuum was discussed recently by Feigel [Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 020404 (2004)]. In contrast to Feigel's approach, we assume that the ME coupling occurs naturally, rather than being produced by external strong fields. We also find the same effect qualitatively via another route by considering one single electromagnetic mode.
Birkeland
Ole Jakob
OJ
Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway.
Brevik
Iver
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