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Birkhäuser

Foundations of Classical Electrodynamics

Charge, Flux, and Metric

  • Textbook
  • © 2003

Overview

Authors:
  1. Friedrich W. Hehl

    1. Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
      Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, USA

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  2. Yuri N. Obukhov

    1. Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
      Department of Theoretical Physics, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

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Part of the book series: Progress in Mathematical Physics (PMP, volume 33)

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Table of contents (7 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xv
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  2. Introduction

    • Friedrich W. Hehl, Yuri N. Obukhov
    Pages 1-15

  3. Mathematics:Some Exterior Calculus

    • Friedrich W. Hehl, Yuri N. Obukhov
    Pages 17-106

  4. Axioms of Classical Electrodynamics

    • Friedrich W. Hehl, Yuri N. Obukhov
    Pages 107-191

  5. More Mathematics

    • Friedrich W. Hehl, Yuri N. Obukhov
    Pages 193-242

  6. The Maxwell-Lorentz Spacetime Relation

    • Friedrich W. Hehl, Yuri N. Obukhov
    Pages 243-311

  7. Electrodynamics in Vacuum and in Matter

    • Friedrich W. Hehl, Yuri N. Obukhov
    Pages 313-373

  8. Outlook

    • Friedrich W. Hehl, Yuri N. Obukhov
    Pages 375-395

  9. Back Matter

    Pages 397-413
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Keywords

About this book

In this book we display the fundamental structure underlying classical electro­ dynamics, i. e. , the phenomenological theory of electric and magnetic effects. The book can be used as a textbook for an advanced course in theoretical electrodynamics for physics and mathematics students and, perhaps, for some highly motivated electrical engineering students. We expect from our readers that they know elementary electrodynamics in the conventional (1 + 3)-dimensional form including Maxwell's equations. More­ over, they should be familiar with linear algebra and elementary analysis, in­ cluding vector analysis. Some knowledge of differential geometry would help. Our approach rests on the metric-free integral formulation of the conservation laws of electrodynamics in the tradition of F. Kottler (1922), E. Cartan (1923), and D. van Dantzig (1934), and we stress, in particular, the axiomatic point of view. In this manner we are led to an understanding of why the Maxwell equa­ tions have their specific form. We hope that our book can be seen in the classical tradition of the book by E. J. Post (1962) on the Formal Structure of Electro­ magnetics and of the chapter "Charge and Magnetic Flux" of the encyclopedia article on classical field theories by C. Truesdell and R. A. Toupin (1960), in­ cluding R. A. Toupin's Bressanone lectures (1965); for the exact references see the end of the introduction on page 11. .

Reviews

"[The authors] …have stressed the phenomena underlying the axioms chosen and the operational interpretation of the quantities introduced. In this, they have clearly succeeded."

—Mathematical Reviews

"Throughout this book, the rationalized MKS system of units is used, making analysis more intelligible, and there are many diagrams which are of great help in understanding the text. Each part of the book is followed by a copious list of references.... Also, in appropriate places there are indications how computer algebra (REDUCE/EXCALC) can be used.... The printing and appearance of the book are excellent.... It can be warmly recommended."

—Zentralblatt Math

 

Authors and Affiliations

  • Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

    Friedrich W. Hehl, Yuri N. Obukhov

  • Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, USA

    Friedrich W. Hehl

  • Department of Theoretical Physics, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

    Yuri N. Obukhov

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