The anomalous radiation force of light on a left-handed material

This paper derives the force of the electromagnetic radiation on left-handed materials (LHMs) by a direct application of the Lorentz law of classical electrodynamics. The expressions of radiation force are given for TE-polarised and TM-polarised fields. The numerical results demonstrate that electromagnetic waves exert an inverse lateral radiation force on each edge of the beams, that is, the lateral pressure is expansive for TE-polarised beams and compressive for TM-polarised beams. The investigation of the radiation force will provide insights into the fundamental properties of LHMs and will provide to better understanding of the interaction of light with LHMs.