ON THE FOUNDATIONS OF ELECTRODYNAMICS.
Abstract
This paper is the first in a series in which electrodynamics is developed from the ground up. The electromagnetic field is defined in terms of an infinitesimal active Lorentz transformation that alters the four-momentum of a charged structureless 'test particle'. The Lorentz transformations are parameterized in terms of the Pauli algebra formalism developed by Tisza and Whitney. Comparison with the Lorentz force equation yields the result that the magnetic field manifests itself in a rotation of the particle momentum, the angular velocity of which is the cyclotron frequency; the electric field is in a similar relation to the hyperbolic angular velocity associated with the active Lorentz transformation describing the 'boost'. The Maxwell equations are obtained from the usual requirement of relativistic invariance. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1968
- Accession Number
- AD0672793
Entities
People
- Laszlo Tisza
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology