The Abraham-Minkowski controversy is a physics debate concerning electromagnetic momentum within dielectric media. Or in simpler terms, the ability of an object to simply move within a vacuum when under strong electromagnetic fields.
Two equations exist describing momentum transfer between matter and electromagnetic fields - both seem to be supported by contradicting experimental data. The two existing equations were first suggested by Max Abraham and Hermann Minkowski - from which the controversy name derives. Both ask to define the momentum of an electromagnetic field permeating matter. Abraham's equation suggests that materials through which light travels more slowly, electromagnetic fields should have lower momentum - Minkowski suggests it should have a greater momentum. It has been discovered that where Abraham only accounts for the momentum of the electromagnetic fields, where Minkowski takes into account the momentum of the material also.
Some suggest that this is a scientific phenomena wherin vacuum fluctuations contribute to the motion of dielectric liquids in crossed electric and magnetic fields. If correct, this phenomena could be used to investigate zero fluctuations .
See also
- Slepian-Drive
- Heaviside Force
- Electromagnetic Stress-Tensor Propulsion
- Feynman Disk Paradox
References
NASA documentation
Article in Physics Review Focus