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Transformation of Electric and Magnetic Forces in a Plane Wave, in a Plane Normal to the Direction of Relative Motion of Two Observers

Vladimir Karapetoff

  • School of Electrical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y.

Phys. Rev. 23, 239 – Published 1 February, 1924

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.23.239

Abstract

Two observers are assumed to move along the X axis and to measure the components of the electric intensity E(E1,E2,E3) and magnetic intensity H(H1,H2,H3) of a plane electromagnetic wave propagated at an arbitrary angle to the X axis. According to the theory of relativity, the two observers will find the same values of the components E1 and H1 along the X axis. The components E2,E3,H2,H3, along the Y and Z axes, are replotted in a novel manner in the so-called computing plane which consists of two sets of oblique co-ordinates. The angle comprised by each set is uniquely determined by the relative velocity of the two observers. In the computing plane a transformation point M is located such that its abscissa and ordinate with respect to one set of oblique axes gives the components E2 and H3 of the wave intensities as measured by one of the observers, while its co-ordinates with respect to the other set of axes gives the values of the same components as measured by the other observer. Another transformation point N gives the components E15 and H2 for the two observers. It is shown that the loci of M and N are ellipses. The results obtained are shown to check with the well-known equations of the theory of relativity. The location of the points M and N is shown in two simple special cases, and instructions are given for locating them in the general case.

References (2)

  1. O. W. Richardson, The Electron Theory of Matter, 1916, p. 309
  2. Snyder and Sisam, Analytic Geometry of Space, Chap. III

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