Kinetic-energy-momentum tensor in electrodynamics

Cheyenne J. Sheppard and Brandon A. Kemp
Phys. Rev. A 93, 013855 – Published 28 January 2016

Abstract

We show that the Einstein-Laub formulation of electrodynamics is invalid since it yields a stress-energy-momentum (SEM) tensor that is not frame invariant. Two leading hypotheses for the kinetic formulation of electrodynamics (Chu and Einstein-Laub) are studied by use of the relativistic principle of virtual power, mathematical modeling, Lagrangian methods, and SEM transformations. The relativistic principle of virtual power is used to demonstrate the field dynamics associated with energy relations within a relativistic framework. Lorentz transformations of the respective SEM tensors demonstrate the relativistic frameworks for each studied formulation. Mathematical modeling of stationary and moving media is used to illustrate the differences and discrepancies of specific proposed kinetic formulations, where energy relations and conservation theorems are employed. Lagrangian methods are utilized to derive the field kinetic Maxwell's equations, which are studied with respect to SEM tensor transforms. Within each analysis, the Einstein-Laub formulation violates special relativity, which invalidates the Einstein-Laub SEM tensor.

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  • Received 13 May 2015
  • Revised 25 November 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.93.013855

©2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

General Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Cheyenne J. Sheppard1 and Brandon A. Kemp2,*

  • 1College of Sciences and Mathematics, Arkansas State University, Arkansas 72467, USA
  • 2College of Engineering, Arkansas State University, Arkansas 72467, USA

  • *bkemp@astate.edu

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Issue

Vol. 93, Iss. 1 — January 2016

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