Relativistic analysis of field-kinetic and canonical electromagnetic systems

Cheyenne J. Sheppard and Brandon A. Kemp

We demonstrate the relativistic electromagnetic force and power distributions of the field-kinetic and canonical electromagnetic subsystems with respect to light normally incident upon a moving, lossless magnetodielectric slab of material. Time-averaged and time-varying studies are preformed to demonstrate the continuum mathematical approach and discern between the physical characteristics of both field-kinetic and canonical subsystems. It is shown that when considering time-averaged fields, both subsystems are equivalent and thereby yield equivalent electromagnetic force and power results. The time-varying case demonstrates the differences between the field-kinetic and canonical subsystems, where the field-kinetic subsystem attempts to distort the media and the canonical subsystem satisfies global conservation principles.

DOI