2005/06/29 by Frank Gronwald, Gronwald, Frank, Friedrich W. Hehl +4
Physics and Astronomy · #Classical Physics (physics.class-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences #Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci) #Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #Relativity and Gravitational Theory #cond-mat.mtrl-sci #physics.class-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.physics/0506219
24 pages latex, 4 figures
arxiv created 2005/06/29 · openalex publication_date 2005/06/29 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We give a concise axiomatic introduction into the fundamental structure of classical electrodynamics: It is based on electric charge conservation, the Lorentz force, magnetic flux conservation, and the existence of local and linear constitutive relations. The \it inhomogeneous Maxwell equations, expressed in terms of Di and Hi, turn out to be a consequence of electric charge conservation, whereas the \it homogeneous Maxwell equations, expressed in terms of Ei and Bi, are derived from magnetic flux conservation and special relativity theory. The excitations Di and Hi, by means of constitutive relations, are linked to the field strengths Ei and Bi. Eventually, we point out how this axiomatic approach is related to the framework of gauge field theory.