On the hyperbolicity of Maxwell's equations with a local constitutive law

DOI10.1063/1.3579133zbMATH Open1316.78001arXiv1011.2536OpenAlexW3099005304WikidataQ62005823 ScholiaQ62005823MaRDI QIDQ5263570FDOQ5263570

Volker Perlick

Publication date: 17 July 2015

Published in: Journal of Mathematical Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: Maxwell's equations are considered in metric-free form, with a local but otherwise arbitrary constitutive law. After splitting Maxwell's equations into evolution equations and constraints, we derive the characteristic equation and we discuss its properties in detail. We present several results that are relevant for the question of whether the evolution equations are hyperbolic, strongly hyperbolic or symmmetric hyperbolic. In particular, we give a convenient characterisation of all constitutive laws for which the evolution equations are symmetric hyperbolic. The latter property is sufficient, but not necessary, for well-posedness of the initial-value problem. By way of example, we illustrate our results with the constitutive laws of biisotropic media and of Born-Infeld theory.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1011.2536

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Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Lasers, masers, optical bistability, nonlinear optics (78A60) Maxwell equations (35Q61) Foundations in optics and electromagnetic theory (78A02) Electromagnetic theory (general) (78A25) Electromagnetic fields in general relativity and gravitational theory (83C50)

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Cited In (6)

• Characterisation and representation of non-dissipative electromagnetic medium with two Lorentz null cones
• Characteristic analysis for integrable soliton models on two-dimensional target spaces
• Linear media in classical electrodynamics and the post constraint
• Shock wave polarizations and optical metrics in the Born and the Born-Infeld electrodynamics
• A necessary condition ensuring the strong hyperbolicity of first-order systems
• Equivalence principle and electromagnetic field: no birefringence, no dilaton, and no axion

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