On a new category of physical effects

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new 'intrinsic' category of physical effects, predicts an example that affects electromagnetic wave propagation in magnetic fields, and proposes an experimental detection scheme within classical Maxwell theory.

Contribution

It proposes a novel intrinsic effect category, provides a theoretical prediction of its impact on electromagnetic waves, and suggests how to experimentally observe this effect.

Findings

The intrinsic effect reduces electromagnetic wave velocity in a magnetic field.

Exact calculations within Maxwell theory support the effect's existence.

A critical remark on gravitational wave detection is included.

Abstract

A new category of "intrinsic" effects is proposed to be added to the two already known kinematic and dynamical categories. An example of intrinsic effect is predicted, its origin source is established, and a scheme of its experimental detection is proposed. This effect lowers to non-relativistic values the propagation velocity of a plane electromagnetic wave in a vacuum, when a time-independent homogeneous magnetic field is superposed over it. This result, pertaining to the classical Maxwell theory, follows from exact calculations. A critical remark on gravitational waves' detection is given.