A topological theory of the electromagnetic field (Q1263135)

It is shown that Maxwell equations in vacuum derive from an underlying topological structure given by a scalar field \(\phi\) which represents a map \(S^ 3\times R\to S^ 2\) and determines the electromagnetic field. They can be obtained as the linearization of the highly nonlinear field equations obeyed by \(\phi\). As a consequence, Maxwell equations in vacuum have topological solutions characterized by a Hopf index equal to the linking number of any pair of magnetic lines. This allows the classification of the electromagnetic fields in homotopy classes, labeled by the value of the helicity. Although the model makes use of only c- number fields, the helicity verifies always the condition \(\int A\cdot Bd^ 3r=na\), n being an integer and \(a\) an action constant, which necessarily appears in the theory because of reasons of dimensionality. Consequently, the topology induces a quantum structure, the action constant indicating its quantitative importance.