Photophoresis of micrometer-sized particles in the free-molecular regime

The photophoretic force in the free-molecular regime has been calculated fo r a spherical particle using the Lorenz-Mie solution to the electromagnetic field within the particle. The temperature distribution on the surface of the suspended particle is calculated using a finite difference method. The effect of the complex refractive index m = n + ik and the normalized size p arameter defined as alpha = 2 pia/lambda on the photophoretic force and par ticle velocity are also examined. We show that far a 1 solar constant illum ination, the photophoretic forces might be as high as 20% of the weight of the particles considered. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.