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The electrodynamics of magneto-electric media

Journal Article · · Philosophical Magazine

A general magneto-electric medium is one in which there is a linear, reciprocal relationship between the magnetic field and the electric polarization, and between the electric field and the magnetic polarization, as well as a linear relationship between the magnetic field and the magnetic polarization and between the electric field and electric polarization. The relationship between the fields and polarizations is expressed by means of a single tensor equation relating the field and polarization tensors in the medium, The properties of the rank four susceptibility tensor, required to establish this relationship, are investigated, A general tensor wave equation is obtained for a homogeneous anisotropic medium. The equation to the wave-vector surface is obtained as a six- by-six determinant, which must vanish, and which gives results in agreement with experiment when applied to simple anisotropic dielectric or magnetic crystals. When this equation is applied to an ideal magneto-electric medium, in which the magnetic and electric susceptibilities may be neglected, the conclusion is reached that waves of constant amplitude cannot propagate in a magneto-electric medium. If propagation takes place at all the waves must have either positive or negative damping, as a result of an exchange of energy between waves having perpendicular planes of polarization.

Research Organization:
University Coll., Ibadan, Africa
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
NSA Number:
NSA-17-005126
OSTI ID:
4769419
Journal Information:
Philosophical Magazine, Journal Name: Philosophical Magazine Journal Issue: 82 Vol. 7; ISSN 0031-8086
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English

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