Symmetries of the equations of pre-metric electromagnetism
Abstract
Description
The equations of pre-metric electromagnetism are summarized and then formulated as an exterior differential system on the total space of the bundle of 2-forms over the spacetime manifold. The Harrison-Estabrook method of computing the symmetries of the system is then applied, with the result that of the four possible formal algebras of infinitesimal symmetries, the most physically compelling one is the Lie algebra of infinitesimal projective transformations of real four-dimensional projective space.
14 pages, presented at the Symmetry in Nonlinear Mathematical Physics conference held in Kiev, June, 2005
14 pages, presented at the Symmetry in Nonlinear Mathematical Physics conference held in Kiev, June, 2005