All Problems

Polarization of Light

Problem 5.199

Experience shows that a body irradiated with light with circular polarization acquires a torque. This happens because such a light possesses an angular momentum whose flow density in vacuum is equal to M=I/ω,M=I / \omega, where II is the intensity of light, ω\omega is the angular oscillation frequency. Suppose light with circular polarization and wavelength λ=0.70μm\lambda=0.70 \mu \mathrm{m} falls normally on a uniform black disc of mass m=10mgm=10 \mathrm{mg} which can freely rotate about its axis. How soon will its angular velocity become equal to ω0=\omega_{0}= =1.0=1.0 rad/s provided I=10W/cm2?I=10^{\circ} \mathrm{W} / \mathrm{cm}^{2} ?

Reveal Answer
5.199. t=mcω0/λI=12t=m c \omega_{0} / \lambda I=12 hours. Although the effect is very small, it was observed both for visible light and for SHF radiation.