The effects of the electromagnetic field on material systems are governed by joint light-matter conservation laws. An increasing number of these balance equations are currently being considered both theoretically and with an eye to their practical applicability. I will present a unified theory to treat conservation laws in light-matter interactions. It can be used to describe and engineer the transfer of any measurable property from the electromagnetic field to any object. The theory allows to explicitly characterize and separately compute the transfer due to asymmetry of the object and the transfer due to field absorption by the object. It also allows to compute the upper bound of the transfer rate of any given property to any given object, together with the corresponding most efficient illumination which achieves the bound. Due to its algebraic nature, the approach is inherently suited for computer implementation.

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Ivan Fernandez-Corbaton and Carsten Rockstuhl, "Unified theory of conservation laws in light-matter interactions (Conference Presentation)," Proc. SPIE 10549, Complex Light and Optical Forces XII, 1054902 (Presented at SPIE OPTO: January 30, 2018; Published: 14 March 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2284784.5751548046001.