Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2020 / ii / Paper 3 / 36D (Electrodynamics)

Let $\mathbf{\sigma }$ be the stated Maxwell stress tensor. Taking its divergence and usinggivesThe Maxwell equations in vacuum with sources areSubstitution, together with antisymmetry of the cross product, yieldsTherefore the required vector is the electromagnetic momentum densityandThis is local conservation of electromagnetic momentum. The tensor component ${\sigma }_{ij}$ is the flux of $i$-momentum in the $j$ direction in the convention of the question, $\mathbf{g}$ is field momentum per unit volume, and $\rho \mathbf{E}+\mathbf{J}\times \mathbf{B}$ is the Lorentz force density transferred to matter.

In the radiation zone, both fields are transverse to $\hat{\mathbf{x}}$ and obeyThe outward Poynting vector isso its time average isAn absorbing shell receives the incident momentum rather than reversing it. Hence radiation pressure on a perfectly absorbing surface givesAt $r=R$,and thereforeIf $\vartheta$ is the angle between $\hat{\mathbf{x}}$ and ${\mathbf{p}}_0$, this isIts spherical average is ${\mu }_0{\omega }^4|{\mathbf{p}}_0{|}^2/(48{\pi }^2{R}^2{c}^2)$; the vector force integrates to zero by the inversion symmetry of the electric dipole radiation pattern.