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

DOI10.1134/S0001434616090029zbMATH Open1358.35183arXiv1311.0569OpenAlexW2963895613WikidataQ125895460 ScholiaQ125895460MaRDI QIDQ509130FDOQ509130

Carlos Valero

Publication date: 9 February 2017

Published in: Mathematical Notes (Search for Journal in Brave)

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.

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)

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Cited In (1)

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