Lagrangian formalism and conservation laws for electrodynamics in nonlinear elastic dielectrics

Journal Article · Sun Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 1992 · Annals of Physics (New York); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-4916(92)90324-F· OSTI ID:6655527

Schoeller, H; Thellung, A ^[1]

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1. Universitaet Zuerich (Switzerland)

For the continuum theory of electromagnetic fields in interaction with an elastic dielectric medium a new Lagrangian formalism is developed. The medium may be arbitrarily nonlinear and anisotropic, but in order to have conservation of quasimomentum it has to be homogeneous. For simplicity, the frequencies of the excitations are assumed to be such that dispersion can be neglected, but it is indicated how it can be taken into account. Directly from the Lagrangian equations of motion and alternatively by means of Noether's theorem the general conservation laws for energy, momentum, and quasimomentum are derived. They are formulated in both local (Eulerian) and material (Lagrangian) coordinate systems. Special attention is given to quasimomentum. 22 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6655527
• Journal Information: Annals of Physics (New York); (United States), Vol. 220:1; ISSN 0003-4916
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
ELECTRODYNAMICS
CONSERVATION LAWS
LAGRANGE EQUATIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
EQUATIONS OF MOTION
MATRICES
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
MATERIALS
661100* - Classical & Quantum Mechanics- (1992-)
661300 - Other Aspects of Physical Science- (1992-)
990200 - Mathematics & Computers