Theory of Electromagnetic Pulses

Theory of Electromagnetic Pulses Synopsis

This short monograph presents the theory of electromagnetic pulses in a simple and physical way. All pulses discussed are exact localized solutions of the Maxwell equations, and have finite energy, momentum and angular momentum. There are eight chapters: on Fundamentals, Solutions of the Wave Equation, Electromagnetic Pulses, Angular Momentum, Lorentz Transformation of pulses, Chirality, Polarization, and a final one summarizing and comparing various electromagnetic pulses and their properties. Eighteen Appendices cover mathematical or associated aspects. The subject matter is restricted to free-space classical electrodynamics, but contact is made with quantum theory in proofs that causal pulses are equivalent to superpositions of photons.

Key Features:

• Explains a rigorous, first-principles (from Maxwell's equations) theory of electromagnetic pulses
• Contains exact solutions, all having have finite energy, momentum, and angular momentum
• Includes many worked examples of TE (transverse electric), TM (transverse magnetic) and more complicated pulses
• Includes a new chapter on chiral properties of electromagnetic pulses