An electromagnetic analogue of gravitational wave memory

Abstract

We present an electromagnetic analog of gravitational wave memory. That is,\nwe consider what change has occurred to a detector of electromagnetic radiation\nafter the wave has passed. Rather than a distortion in the detector, as occurs\nin the gravitational wave case, we find a residual velocity (a "kick") to the\ncharges in the detector. In analogy with the two types of gravitational wave\nmemory ("ordinary" and "nonlinear") we find two types of electromagnetic kick.\n