Maxwell's equations, the Euler index, and Morse theory

DOI10.1134/S0001434616090029MaRDI QIDQ509130zbMATH OpenOpenAlexWikidataFDO

Authors Carlos Valero

Publication date 9 February 2017

Published in Mathematical Notes (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/1311.0569

zbMATH Keywords

tensorsingularitiesvector bundleFresnel surfacesectionconical refraction

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Applications of vector bundles and moduli spaces in mathematical physics (twistor theory, instantons, quantum field theory) (14D21) PDEs in connection with optics and electromagnetic theory (35Q60) Maxwell equations (35Q61) Geometric optics (78A05) Homotopy and topological questions for infinite-dimensional manifolds (58B05)

Abstract: We show show that the singularities of the Fresnel surface for Maxwell's equation on an anisotrpic material can be accounted from purely topological considerations. The importance of these singularities is that they explain the phenomenon of conical refraction predicted by Hamilton. We show how to de-singularise the Fresnel surface, which will allow us to use Morse theory to find lower bounds for the number of critical wave velocities inside the material under consideration. Finally, we propose a program to generalise the results obtained to the general case of hyperbolic differential operators on differentiable bundles.

Recommendations

• Singular geometrical optics for differential operators on surfaces
• Determination of an electromagnetic medium from the Fresnel surface
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 2100979
• Maxwell’s equations for a transverse field
• Second analytic wave front set in crystal optics

Cites work

• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3141869 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 16293 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 48789 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3567529 (Why is no real title available?)
• A Note on Hyperbolic Polynomials.
• Addendum to: Algebraic conditions for hyperbolicity of systems of partial differential equations
• Hyperbolic systems with double characteristics
• Morse Theory. (AM-51)
• Morse theory for eigenvalue functions of symmetric tensors
• Normal forms of real symmetric systems with multiplicity
• The multiplicity of eigenvalues

Cited in

(3)

• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 896216 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 2070660 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 2100979 (Why is no real title available?)

This page was built for publication: Maxwell's equations, the Euler index, and Morse theory

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q509130)