Skip to main content
Log in

Symmetry of polarization space and supplementary invariance of Maxwell's equations

  • Published:
Soviet Physics Journal Aims and scope

Abstract

The invariance of the two-potential formulation of Maxwell's equations relative to a set of transformations of the fields and potentials forming the group GL(2, c) ⊗ GL(2, c), which narrows to the group GL(2, c) when the number of independent degrees of freedom characteristic of an electromagnetic field is taken into account, is established. The indicated invariance reflects a symmetry which is internally intrinsic to the polarization space of an electromagnetic field.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature cited

  1. V. I. Fushchich and A. G. Nikitin, in: Group-Theoretical Methods in Mathematical Physics [in Russian], Inst. of Mathematics, Ukr. SSR Academy of Sciences, Kiev (1978); Lett. Nuovo Cimento,24, 220 (1979); J. Phys.,A12, 747 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  2. F. Kempfer, Fundamental Propositions of Quantum Mechanics [Russian translation], Mir, Moscow (1967); J. M. Jauch, and F. Rohrlich, The Theory of Photons and Electrons, Addison-Wesley, Reading, Mass. (1955).

    Google Scholar 

  3. F. I. Fedorov, Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR,12, 37 (1952); A. A. Bogush and L. G. Moroz, Introduction to Classical Field Theory [in Russian], Nauka i Tekhnika, Minsk (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Yu. V. Kresin and V. I. Strazhev, Teor. Mat. Fiz., 316, 426 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  5. N. Cabibbo and E. Ferrari, Nuovo Cimento,23, 1147 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  6. V. I. Strazhev and V. A. Pletyukhov, Izv. Vyssh. Uchebn. Zaved. Fiz., No. 12 (1979).

  7. F. I. Fedorov, The Lorentz Group [in Russian], Nauka, Moscow (1979).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 12, pp. 39–42, December, 1981.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Strazhev, V.I., Pletyukhov, V.A. Symmetry of polarization space and supplementary invariance of Maxwell's equations. Soviet Physics Journal 24, 1100–1103 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00893733

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00893733

Keywords

Navigation