Dynamics of the Photoinduced Rotation of a Spherical Particle in a Constant Electric Field

Abstract

The rotation of a spherical particle in a constant electric field (an effect found earlier) has been analyzed. The particle is illuminated to induce the electric dipole moment of the sphere. The dynamics of the rotation effect has been considered in general terms to refine conditions for adiabatic rotation. The features of the particle’s nonadiabatic rotation have been demonstrated with a sphere placed in a medium with an infinitesimal viscosity. It has been shown that the nonadiabatic rotation dynamics to a great extent depends on a relationship between the electrical and photoinduced dipole moments of the sphere. The rotation dynamics of a particle with a slightly nonspherical shape has been briefly analyzed.