Relativistic Dynamics of MagnetoElectric Matter under the Action of Electromagnetic Waves & New Experiments

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Friedrich W. Hehl
• Subject Area: Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, Fields
• Term: from 2005 to 2008
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 20169362

The starting point of our project is an effect predicted by A. Feigel in Physical Review Letters in 2004: A contribution of vacuum fluctuations to the motion of a dielectric liquid in crossed electric and magnetic fields. We plan to reanalyze the Feigel process since the theory of Feigel is, to some extend, somewhat sketchy and not really coherent. In parts, it has been criticized in the literature. Based on the formalism of classical electrodynamics set up in the book of Hehl & Obukhov (2003), we develop a fully relativistic theory of a moving magneto-electric medium in external crossed electric and magnetic fields. Both, the fluid as well as the electromagnetic field are described, for the first time in this context, fully relativistically. In preliminary calculations we found a feasible way of how to determine the complete matter/field energy-momentum tensor, including the Maxwell stress tensor. These preliminary calculations indicate that we can develop a fully relativistic theory for the the Feigel process. Moreover, using external laser light, we expect to be able to propose a new experiment which displays a Feigel type of behavior.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants