Abstract: There are two different proposals for the momentum of light in a transparent dielectric of refractive index n: Minkowski s version nE/c and Abrahm s version E/ nc , where E and c are the energy and vacuum speed of light, respectively. Despite many tests and debates over nearly a century, momentum of light in a transparent dielectric remains controversial. In this Letter, we report a direct observation of the inward push force on the end face of a free nm fiber taper exerted by the outgoing light. Our results clearly support Abraham momentum. Our experiment also indicates an inward surface pressure on a dielectric exerted by the incident light, different from the commonly recognized pressure due to the specular reflection. Such an inward surface pressure by the incident light may be useful for precise design of the laser-induced inertially-confined fusion.

The momentum of a photon traveling inside a transperent dielectric:

p = E/(nc)

p - momentum
E - energy
n - index of refraction
c - speed of light

--timball

0806.2442 Observation of a push force on the end face of a nm fiber taper exerted by outgoing light