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Title: Riemannian light cone from vanishing birefringence in premetric vacuum electrodynamics

Abstract

We consider premetric electrodynamics with a local and linear constitutive law for the vacuum. Within this framework, we find quartic Fresnel wave surfaces for the propagation of light. If we require (i) the Fresnel equation to have only real solutions and (ii) the vanishing of birefringence in vacuum, then a Riemannian light cone is implied. No proper Finslerian structure can occur. This is generalized to dynamical equations of any order.

Authors:
;  [1]
  1. Centre of Advanced Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM), University of Bremen, Am Fallturm, 28359 Bremen (Germany)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
20698053
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physical Review. D, Particles Fields
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 70; Journal Issue: 10; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.70.105022; (c) 2004 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0556-2821
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS; BIREFRINGENCE; ELECTRODYNAMICS; LIGHT CONE; MATHEMATICAL SOLUTIONS; RIEMANN SPACE

Citation Formats

Laemmerzahl, Claus, Hehl, Friedrich W, Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Cologne, 50923 Cologne, and Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri 65211. Riemannian light cone from vanishing birefringence in premetric vacuum electrodynamics. United States: N. p., 2004. Web. doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.70.105022.
Laemmerzahl, Claus, Hehl, Friedrich W, Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Cologne, 50923 Cologne, & Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri 65211. Riemannian light cone from vanishing birefringence in premetric vacuum electrodynamics. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.70.105022
Laemmerzahl, Claus, Hehl, Friedrich W, Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Cologne, 50923 Cologne, and Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri 65211. 2004. "Riemannian light cone from vanishing birefringence in premetric vacuum electrodynamics". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.70.105022.
@article{osti_20698053,
title = {Riemannian light cone from vanishing birefringence in premetric vacuum electrodynamics},
author = {Laemmerzahl, Claus and Hehl, Friedrich W and Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Cologne, 50923 Cologne and Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri 65211},
abstractNote = {We consider premetric electrodynamics with a local and linear constitutive law for the vacuum. Within this framework, we find quartic Fresnel wave surfaces for the propagation of light. If we require (i) the Fresnel equation to have only real solutions and (ii) the vanishing of birefringence in vacuum, then a Riemannian light cone is implied. No proper Finslerian structure can occur. This is generalized to dynamical equations of any order.},
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevD.70.105022},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/20698053}, journal = {Physical Review. D, Particles Fields},
issn = {0556-2821},
number = 10,
volume = 70,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2004},
month = {Mon Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2004}
}