Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Preparation of Liquid Crystal Networks for Macroscopic Oscillatory Motion Induced by Light
Published on: September 20, 2017
Giant deformations of a liquid-liquid interface induced by the optical radiation pressure
1Centre de Physique Moleculaire Optique et Hertzienne, UMR CNRS/Universit 5798, Universit Bordeaux I, 351 Cours de la Libration, F-33405 Talence cedex, France. acasner@cribx1.u-bordeaux.fr
Abstract:
Because of the small momentum of photons, very intense fields are generally required to bend a liquid interface with the optical radiation pressure. We explore this issue in a near-critical phase-separated liquid mixture to vary continuously the meniscus softness by tuning the temperature. Low power continuous laser waves become sufficient to induce huge stationary bulges. Using the beam size to build an "optical" Bond number, Bo, we investigate the crossover from low to large Bo. The whole set of data collapses onto a single master curve which illustrates the universality of the phenomenon.
Related Concept Videos
Radiation Pressure: Problem Solving
The average value of the rate of momentum transfer divided by the absorbing area represents the average force per...
Fluid Pressure over Curved Plate of Constant Width
Fluid Pressure over Flat Plate of Variable Width
The pressure distribution on the plate can be calculated by determining the force that acts on a differential area strip of the plate. Thus, the magnitude of the force is equal to the...
Excess Pressure Inside a Drop and a Bubble
Concept of Pressure at a Point
In a fluid at rest, pressure acts equally in...
Hydrostatic Pressure Force on a Curved Surface

