- #1
Dazed&Confused
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Homework Statement
In a certain system of units the electromagnetic stress tensor is given by [itex] M_{ij} = E_iE_j + B_i B_j - \frac12 \delta_{ij} ( E_kE_k + B_kB_k) [/itex]
where [itex] E_i [/itex] and [itex] B_i [/itex] are components of the 1-st order tensors representing the electric and magnetic fields [itex] \bar{E} [/itex] and [itex] \bar{B}, [/itex] respectively.
b) For [itex] |E| = |B| [/itex] (but [itex] \bar{E} \neq \bar{B} [/itex]):
show that [itex] \bar{E} \pm \bar{B} [/itex] are principal axes of the tensor [itex] M [/itex].
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
I get that this is related to diagonalisation of matrices, but I am not sure how to apply that knowledge in this case. The lecture notes I have make no mention of principal axes or diagonalisation. Not at all sure how this is to be done. Any hints?