dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaGauge Invariance in Classical Electrodynamics
| Authors | Wolfgang Engelhardt |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0510070 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0510070 |
Abstract
The concept of gauge invariance in classical electrodynamics assumes tacitly that Maxwell's equations have unique solutions. By calculating the electromagnetic field of a moving particle both in Lorenz and in Coulomb gauge and directly from the field equations we obtain, however, contradicting solutions. We conclude that the tacit assumption of uniqueness is not justified. The reason for this failure is traced back to the inhomogeneous wave equations which connect the propagating fields and their sources at the same time.
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"abstract": "The concept of gauge invariance in classical electrodynamics assumes tacitly\nthat Maxwell\u0027s equations have unique solutions. By calculating the\nelectromagnetic field of a moving particle both in Lorenz and in Coulomb gauge\nand directly from the field equations we obtain, however, contradicting\nsolutions. We conclude that the tacit assumption of uniqueness is not\njustified. The reason for this failure is traced back to the inhomogeneous wave\nequations which connect the propagating fields and their sources at the same\ntime.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0510070",
"authors": [
"Wolfgang Engelhardt"
],
"categories": [
"physics.class-ph"
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"title": "Gauge Invariance in Classical Electrodynamics",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0510070"
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