A gentle introduction to the foundations of classical electrodynamics: The meaning of the excitations (D,H) and the field strengths (E, B)

Abstract

The axiomatic structure of the electromagnetic theory is outlined. We will base classical electrodynamics on (1) electric charge conservation, (2) the Lorentz force, (3) magnetic flux conservation, and (4) on the Maxwell-Lorentz spacetime relations. This yields the Maxwell equations. The consequences will be drawn, inter alia, for the interpretation and the dimension of the electric and magnetic fields.

22 pages, Revtex; Revised version includes 5 figures, new references added, linguistic corrections

References in corpus (3)

• CODATA Recommended Values of the Fundamental Physical Constants: 2010
• How does the electromagnetic field couple to gravity, in particular to metric, nonmetricity, torsion, and curvature?
• Spacetime metric from linear electrodynamics

Cited by in corpus (12)

• Functional Approach to Electrodynamics of Media
• Generally covariant Fresnel equation and the emergence of the light cone structure in linear pre-metric electrodynamics
• Gravitational waves and electrodynamics: New perspectives
• Backwards on Minkowski's road. From 4D to 3D Maxwellian electromagnetism
• Updating Maxwell with Electrons, Charge, and More Realistic Polarization
• Electrodynamics and spacetime geometry: Astrophysical applications
• Ab initio materials physics and microscopic electrodynamics of media
• On the energy-momentum current of the electromagnetic field in a pre-metric axiomatic approach. I
• Improving student understanding of electrodynamics: the case for differential forms
• Kirchhoff's Law Can Be Exact
• Spacetime Deformations and Electromagnetism in Material Media
• Electrodynamics without Lorentz force