2025/03/21 by Juan R. Deop‐Ruano, Alejandro Manjavacas · 1 voice
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Near-Field Optical Microscopy #Quantum Electrodynamics and Casimir Effect #Thermal Radiation and Cooling Technologies
paper · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.134.113604
openalex publication_date 2025/03/21 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Nanoscale objects moving relative to a thermal radiation bath experience a drag force due to the imbalance in their interaction with the blue- and redshifted components of the electromagnetic field. Here, we show that, in addition to this drag force, moving nanostructures with an anisotropic optical response experience a lateral force and a torque that substantially modify their trajectory. These phenomena emerge from the additional coupling between the electromagnetic field components polarized parallel and perpendicular to the trajectory, enabled by the anisotropic response of the nanostructure. This work unveils the intricate dynamics of anisotropic nanostructures moving in a thermal radiation bath.