- #1
DOTDO
- 7
- 0
If we consider E and B individually, there are 6 total degrees of freedom.
But they are actually related to each other by Maxwell's equations.
So we can find potentials and reduce dof to 4; 3 in vector potential and 1 in scalar potential.
Thus, there remain 2 redundant dof.
This is the problem...
I think one of them gives the polarization of EM wave and the other gives the gauge symmetry.
For example, the vector potential has gauge symmetry, A' = A + del (f)
f is scalar and has one dof.
Am I understanding right ?
But they are actually related to each other by Maxwell's equations.
So we can find potentials and reduce dof to 4; 3 in vector potential and 1 in scalar potential.
Thus, there remain 2 redundant dof.
This is the problem...
I think one of them gives the polarization of EM wave and the other gives the gauge symmetry.
For example, the vector potential has gauge symmetry, A' = A + del (f)
f is scalar and has one dof.
Am I understanding right ?
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