On light propagation in premetric electrodynamics. Covariant dispersion relation

TL;DR

This paper derives a covariant dispersion relation for wave propagation in premetric electrodynamics, revealing a modified light hypersurface that generalizes the classical light cone in Maxwell theory, applicable to various electromagnetic phenomena.

Contribution

It provides the first explicit derivation of a scalar dispersion relation in premetric electrodynamics, unifying different modifications and generalizations of classical electromagnetism.

Findings

Derived a covariant dispersion relation for premetric electrodynamics.

Identified a fourth order light hypersurface replacing the standard light cone.

Established the algebraic and physical basis of the dispersion relation.

Abstract

The premetric approach to electrodynamics provides a unified description of a wide class of electromagnetic phenomena. In particular, it involves axion, dilaton and skewon modifications of the classical electrodynamics. This formalism emerges also when the non-minimal coupling between the electromagnetic tensor and the torsion of Einstein-Cartan gravity is considered. Moreover, the premetric formalism can serve as a general covariant background of the electromagnetic properties of anisotropic media. In the current paper, we study wave propagation in the premetric electrodynamics. We derive a system of characteristic equations corresponded to premetric generalization of the Maxwell equation. This singular system is characterized by the adjoint matrix which turns to be of a very special form -- proportional to a scalar quartic factor. We prove that a necessary condition for existence a non-trivial solution of the characteristic system is expressed by a unique scalar dispersion relation. In the tangential (momentum) space, it determines a fourth order light hypersurface which replaces the ordinary light cone of the standard Maxwell theory. We derive an explicit form of the covariant dispersion relation and establish it'salgebraic and physical origin.