All Questions
5
questions
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1
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54
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Mass density of photons in a refractive medium
The effective mass density of photons in a vacuum $\rho^{vac}_M$ is related to the photon energy density $\rho^{vac}_E$ by
$$\rho^{vac}_M=\frac{\rho^{vac}_E}{c^2}.$$
Is it true that the mass density ...
- 5,925
2
votes
0
answers
45
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Photon energy-momentum relation inside a material [duplicate]
I understand that the speed of light in a medium like glass, $c_n$, is reduced by the refractive index $n$ so that we have:
$$c_n=\frac{c}{n},$$
where $c$ is the speed of light in the vacuum.
Is it ...
- 5,925
10
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6
answers
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Lorentz invariance of Maxwell's equations in matter
I know that Maxwell's equations of electromagnetism are Lorentz invariant in a vacuum. But what about in a generalized medium, e.g. a metal, a rubber, a dielectric, a magnet? I have read it comes down ...
- 1,087
0
votes
2
answers
1k
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Refraction vs Special Relativity
Special relativity postulates that the speed of light (while traveling through vaccum) is a constant ($c = 3 \times 10^8 m/s$). But, when light is refracted and change the medium in which it's ...
- 61
8
votes
2
answers
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Special Relativity, refractive index and catching up with a wave
Einstein was partially motivated by the following: With Maxwell's equations, a plane wave is a sinusoidal wave that varies in space in time and moving with speed $c$. These variations are linked by ...
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