Non-linear electrodynamics in the Newman-Penrose formalism

Article

Non-linear electrodynamics in the Newman-Penrose formalism

Bičák, J. and Slavík, J.

Acta Phys. Pol. B B6(0), 489-508 (1975)

Abstract

An approach to non-linear electrodynamics by means of the spin-coefficient formalism of Newman and Penrose is presented. The field equations are rewritten in the Newman-Penrose form, and their spherically symmetric solutions are discussed. An approximation procedure, suitable for treating radiation problems in non-linear electrodynamics, is then suggested on the basis of an analysis of the Maxwell electrodynamics with the sources. Since the field equations are nonlinear, wave tails will in general develop. This is illustrated in detail on an example of approximate solution, representing a radiating dipole in the zero approximation. Conserved quantities, analogous to those discovered by Newman and Penrose in Maxwell's and Einstein's theories are found for a large class of non-linear theories of electrodynamics. Their number depends on the choice of a particular theory - it is greater than, or equal to 16 for theories satisfying the correspondence principle with Maxwell's theory.

Institute authors

Bičák, Jiří

BibTeX

@article{UTF312,
  author        = {Bičák, J. and Slavík, J.},
  title         = {{Non-linear electrodynamics in the Newman-Penrose formalism}},
  journal       = {Acta Phys. Pol. B},
  volume        = {B6},
  number        = {0},
  pages         = {489-508},
  year          = {1975},
}