Maxwell's definition of electric polarization as displacement

TL;DR

This paper clarifies that Maxwell defined the electric displacement D as the electric polarization in his Treatise, challenging the common assumption that he used a separate polarization P, and explains the implications for surface charge density discussions.

Contribution

It reveals that Maxwell's original definition of D as electric polarization has been overlooked, providing new historical insight into his formulation of electromagnetic theory.

Findings

Maxwell identified D with electric polarization in his Treatise.

This identification explains surface charge density concepts in Maxwell's work.

The paper clarifies historical and theoretical understanding of Maxwell's electromagnetic equations.

Abstract

After reaffirming that the macroscopic dipolar electromagnetic equations, which today are commonly referred to as Maxwell's equations, are found in Maxwell's Treatise, we explain from his Treatise that Maxwell defined his displacement vector D as the electric polarization and did not introduce in his Treatise or papers the concept of electric polarization P or the associated electric-polarization volume and surface charge densities, -div P and Pn, respectively. With this realization, we show that Maxwell's discussion of surface charge density between volume elements of dielectrics and between dielectrics and conductors becomes understandable and valid within the context of his definition of electric polarization as displacement D. Apparently, this identification of D with electric polarization in Maxwell's work has not been previously pointed out or documented except very briefly in [2].