# Rewriting Maxwell's Equations in Tensor Form

1. Sep 10, 2012

### Sycobob

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

From Sean Carroll's notes on general relativity (chapter 1, pg. 20):

Show that $F_{[\alpha\beta,\gamma]} = 0$ is equivalent to half of the Maxwell equations.

2. Relevant equations

$F_{\mu\nu}$ is the electromagnetic tensor

$\Phi_{,\nu} \equiv \partial_{\nu}\Phi$

$F_{i0}= E_{i}$

$F_{ij}= \epsilon^{ijk}B_{k}$

3. The attempt at a solution

I'm specifically looking to turn Maxwell's (homogeneous) equations into tensor form, not just show that they fall out of $F_{[\alpha\beta,\gamma]} = 0$. I sort of have a solution, but I feel like I'm missing a step.

$\begin{eqnarray*} \nabla×\textbf{E} + \partial_{t}\textbf{B} = 0 \\ \nabla\cdot \textbf{B} = 0 \\ \\ \epsilon^{ijk}\partial_{j}E_{k} + \partial_{0}B^{i} = 0 \\ \partial_{i}B^{i} = 0 \\ \\ \epsilon^{ijk}\partial_{j}F_{k0} + \frac{1}{2}\epsilon^{ijk}\partial_{0}F_{jk} = 0 \\ \frac{1}{2}\epsilon^{ijk}\partial_{i}F_{jk} = 0 \end{eqnarray*}$

which can be rewritten as:

$\epsilon^{\mu\nu\rho\sigma}\partial_{\rho}F_{\mu \nu} = 0$

which, up to a normalization constant, is just:

$F_{[\alpha\beta,\gamma]} = 0$

My question is about going from step 3 to step 4. I sort of pulled it out of my hat and checked that it was correct (term by term). I'm looking for some kind of justification for this step, or a nudge in the right direction if I'm approaching this all wrong.

Also, I'm still getting the hang of tensor notation, and I feel like equation 4 doesn't make sense. Only 3 indices are contracted, leaving the right side a vector, not a scalar. On the other hand, trying to use the Levi-Civita tensor with 3 indices here seems wrong too, as the indices run from 0 to 4 leaving you with stuff like $\epsilon^{013}$.

2. May 26, 2015

### OnesieWithaZ

Bump. : (

3. May 29, 2015

### Fredrik

Staff Emeritus
The first equation in your step 3 is actually three equations, one for each value of i. And the second equation is just one. That's why the final result is a set of four equations.

I think the final step will be easier to understand if you make sure that you understand every step of the following rewrites: (Here A is anything with three indices from 0 to 3).

\begin{align}
&\varepsilon^{ijk} A_{ijk} =\varepsilon^{ijk0} A_{ijk} =\varepsilon^{\mu\nu\rho 0} A_{\mu\nu\rho}\\
&\varepsilon^{ijk} A_{0jk} =\varepsilon^{0jki} A_{0jk} =\varepsilon^{0\nu\rho i} A_{0\nu\rho} =\varepsilon^{\mu\nu\rho i} A_{\mu\nu\rho}
\end{align}