Causal structure and algebraic classification of non-dissipative linear optical media
- Institut fuer Physik, Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin, Newtonstrasse 15, 12489 Berlin (Germany)
In crystal optics and quantum electrodynamics in gravitational vacua, the propagation of light is not described by a metric, but an area metric geometry. In this article, this prompts us to study conditions for linear electrodynamics on area metric manifolds to be well-posed. This includes an identification of the timelike future cones and their duals associated to an area metric geometry, and thus paves the ground for a discussion of the related local and global causal structures in standard fashion. In order to provide simple algebraic criteria for an area metric manifold to present a consistent spacetime structure, we develop a complete algebraic classification of area metric tensors up to general transformations of frame. This classification, valuable in its own right, is then employed to prove a theorem excluding the majority of algebraic classes of area metrics as viable spacetimes. Physically, these results classify and drastically restrict the viable constitutive tensors of non-dissipative linear optical media.
- OSTI ID:
- 21457144
- Journal Information:
- Annals of Physics (New York), Vol. 325, Issue 9; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.aop.2010.04.008; PII: S0003-4916(10)00072-2; Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; ISSN 0003-4916
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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GENERAL PHYSICS
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OPTICS
QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS
SPACE-TIME
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VISIBLE RADIATION
ELECTRODYNAMICS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
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