1 research outputs found
Vacuum torque, propulsive forces, and anomalous tangential forces: Effects of nonreciprocal media out of thermal equilibrium
From the generalized fluctuation-dissipation theorem, it is known that a body
at rest made of nonreciprocal material may experience a torque, even in vacuum,
if it is not in thermal equilibrium with its environment. However, it does not
experience self-propulsion in such circumstances, except in higher order.
Nevertheless, such a body may experience both a normal torque and a lateral
force when adjacent to an ordinary surface with transverse translational
symmetry. We explore how these phenomena arise, discuss what terminal
velocities might be achieved, and point out some of the limitations of applying
our results to observations, including the Lorenz-Lorentz correction, and the
cooling due to radiation. In spite of these limitations, the effects discussed
would seem to be observable.Comment: 20 pages, 8 figure