Maxwell's Laws and the Propagation of Light
| Scientific Paper | |
|---|---|
| Title | Maxwell\'s Laws and the Propagation of Light |
| Read in full | Link to paper |
| Author(s) | Viraj Fernando |
| Keywords | {{{keywords}}} |
| Published | 2012 |
| Journal | Proceedings of the NPA |
| Volume | 9 |
| No. of pages | 2 |
| Pages | 160-161 |
Read the full paper here
Abstract
Maxwell's theory of propagation of electromagnetic waves is based on the Biot-Savart's law together with its converse law acting simultaneously. That is, it is supposedly based on the formation of a magnetic field by the passage of an electric current and the formation of an electric field by a changing magnetic field. Therefore in order that this model holds, and for the waves to perpetuate (without dissipating in a short interval as water waves do), the magnetic field would need to fluctuate on a continuous basis, while the electric current created by the changing magnetic field moves outwards in a spherical wave. One of the chief difficulties of Maxwell's model is to account for how and why the magnetic field fluctuates.
