Symmetric and conserved energy-momentum tensors in moving media

TL;DR

This paper derives a symmetric, conserved energy-momentum tensor for scalar and electromagnetic fields in moving media using the Gordon metric, offering a resolution to the Abraham-Minkowski controversy.

Contribution

It introduces a new method to derive energy-momentum tensors in moving media, clarifying the distinction between field properties and medium coupling.

Findings

The new tensor is symmetric and conserved for scalar fields.

Applied to electromagnetic fields, it provides a clear tensor form.

It offers a resolution to the Abraham-Minkowski controversy.

Abstract

A symmetric and conserved energy-momentum tensor for a scalar field in a moving medium is derived using the Gordon metric. When applied to an electromagnetic field, the method gives a similar result. This approach thus points a way out of the old Abraham-Minkowski controversy about the correct energy-momentum tensors for the electromagnetic field in a material medium. The new tensor describes the properties of the field while the Abraham tensor contains information about the field coupled to the medium.