A theory of electromagnetism with uniquely defined potential and covariant conserved spin

2001/06/25 by A. B. van Oosten · 2 voices
#physics.optics #hep-th #physics.class-ph

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Abstract

A theory of electromagnetism is proposed that is based on the Fermi Lagrangian, which is symmetric under electromagnetic spin rotation. Its features are: - the four-potential is unambiguously determined by the inhomogeneous wave equation and boundary conditions at infinity. - the Lorenz condition and minimal coupling then follow from charge conservation. - electromagnetic spin is conserved and spin operators can be defined without sacrificing covariance. - quantisation is fully covariant, without redefining the metric. - all experimental predictions are the same as in the standard theory. This result proves that electromagnetic gauge invariance is redundant as a fundamental principle of physics.

Discussions

• $\newcommand{\bv}[1]{\boldsymbol{#1}}$ Plane Waves Let's first address the case of a circularly polarized plane wave. Consider $$ \bv{J}^{(1)} = \epsilon_0 \int \bv{r}\times(\bv{E}\times\bv{B})d^3\bv{ [stackexchange, 6 points]
• The Poynting vector is identified with the energy flow. All you need to do is apply it to an electrostatic case, which gives zero, unless there is a magnetic field component perpendicular to the elect [stackexchange, 4 points]

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