Key research themes
1. How can Maxwell's equations be generalized or reformulated to resolve definitional ambiguities and incorporate potentials as fundamental entities?
This theme explores the mathematical and conceptual restructuring of Maxwell's equations to address the challenges related to the transformation properties of fields versus potentials, ambiguities in the definition of electromagnetic fields especially under radiating conditions, and the mathematical consistency offered by quaternion and Clifford algebra formalisms. It is crucial because potentials have been shown to reflect physical reality more fundamentally than fields alone, and classical formulations have loopholes particularly evident in advanced quantum effects and electromagnetic radiation.
2. How do Maxwell's equations extend and adapt in multiphase or heterogeneous media, and what modeling approaches capture these complexities?
This theme focuses on the application and extension of Maxwell's equations to complex media characterized by multiphase systems or heterogeneous structures, emphasizing the challenges of defining local electrodynamic equilibrium, effective field averaging, and closure problems. Investigations include volume averaging methodologies, one- and two-equation models for the electric and magnetic fields, and the implications for practical systems such as soil moisture measurement and microwave heating, where electromagnetic field interactions depend intricately on phase interfacial dynamics and material heterogeneity.
3. How can Maxwell's equations be rigorously derived or interpreted from fundamental principles such as charge conservation, symplectic geometry, and action-at-a-distance concepts?
This theme delves into foundational derivations and interpretations of Maxwell's equations, utilizing principles like the continuity equation for charge conservation, the symplectic geometric structure underlying electromagnetic fields, and classical action-at-a-distance and reciprocity theorems. These approaches clarify underlying axioms, reveal the energy and reciprocity theorems associated with electromagnetic interactions, and connect Maxwellian electromagnetism to broader mathematical physics frameworks, ensuring pedagogical clarity and physical rigor in understanding the fundamental laws governing electromagnetism.