Open AccessResponse theory of optical forces in two-port photonics systems: a simplified framework for examining conservative and non-conservative forces
Author(s) -
Zheng Wang,
Peter T. Rakich
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.19.022322
Subject(s) - conservative force , physics , interferometry , optical force , optics , degrees of freedom (physics and chemistry) , port (circuit theory) , classical mechanics , waveguide , optical tweezers , engineering , quantum mechanics , electronic engineering
We extend the response theory of optical forces to general electromagnetic systems which can be treated as multi-port systems with multiple mechanical degrees of freedom. We demonstrate a fundamental link between the scattering properties of an optical system to its ability to produce conservative or non-conservative optical forces. Through the exploration of two nontrivial two-port systems, including an analytical Fabry-Perot interferometer and a more complex particle-in-a-waveguide structure, we show perfect agreement between the response theory and numerical first-principle calculations. We show that new insights into the origins of optical forces from the response theory provide clear means of understanding conservative and non-conservative forces in a regime where traditional gradient force picture fails.