Some Wave Equations for Electromagnetism and Gravitation

Abstract

The paper studies the inferences of wave equations for electromagnetic fields when there are gravitational fields at the same time. In the description with the algebra of octonions, the inferences of wave equations are identical with that in conventional electromagnetic theory with vector terminology. By means of the octonion exponential function, we can draw out that the electromagnetic waves are transverse waves in a vacuum, and rephrase the law of reflection, Snell's law, Fresnel formula, and total internal reflection etc. The study claims that the theoretical results of wave equations for electromagnetic strength keep unchanged in the case for coexistence of gravitational and electromagnetic fields. Meanwhile the electric and magnetic components of electromagnetic waves can not be determined simultaneously in electromagnetic fields.

22 pages, 14 tables, abridged version published in PIERS 2010

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