Transfer of momentum and torque from a light beam to a liquid

Refraction or absorption of light results in the force and torque, i.e., transfer of momentum and angular momentum from light to the medium. In transversely inhomogeneous beams, the force per unit volume f may have curlf not equal 0 leading to flow or to nonthermal and nongravitational convection in liquids. The force and the torque in scattering systems are as strong as in absorbing materials and may allow one to carry out experiments avoiding thermal effects. Nonlinear optical response of liquid crystals due to this convection is discussed.