Can Maxwell's equations be obtained from the continuity equation?

Abstract

We formulate an existence theorem that states that given localized scalar and vector time-dependent sources satisfying the continuity equation, there exist two retarded fields that satisfy a set of four field equations. If the theorem is applied to the usual electromagnetic charge and current densities, the retarded fields are identified with the electric and magnetic fields and the associated field equations with Maxwell's equations. This application of the theorem suggests that charge conservation can be considered to be the fundamental assumption underlying Maxwell's equations.

14 pages. See the comment: "O. D. Jefimenko, Causal equations for electric and magnetic fields and Maxwell's equations: comment on a paper by Heras [Am. J. Phys. 76, 101 (2008)]."

References in corpus (2)

• Instantaneous fields in classical electrodynamics
• Comment on 'A generalized Helmholtz theorem for time-varying vector fields by A. M. Davis, [Am. J. Phys. 74, 72-76 (2006)]'

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