Electromagnetism and photons in continuous media

Abstract

Different theoretical and experimental aspects of electromagnetic phenomena in media is reviewed. The 100 year old Minkowski theory is in agreement with most experiments, but has theoretical problems related to its implied validity in all inertial frames. It is suggested that the similar Abraham theory should be permanently laid to rest since it is not compatible with basic quantum mechanics and is in disagreement with most experiments. Recently an effective field theory has been proposed which avoids these problems by considering the photon as a quasiparticle like any other excitation in condensed matter physics for which the rest frame of the medium is a preferred frame. It relates many different classical and quantum optical phenomena in a unified description.