Comments on "Riemann-Green function solution of transient electromagnetic plane waves in lossy media

Abstract

In commenting on the above-named work by O.R. Asfar (see ibid., vol.EMC-32, no.3, p.228-31, Aug. 1990), the commenter notes that one can write infinitely many solutions for the associated magnetic field strength that will all satisfy Maxwell's equations, but Maxwell's equations cannot tell which one of these infinitely many solutions is the right one. It is further pointed out that the physical significance of the magnetic current density term used became clear when transients in lossy media were investigated with Lorentz's equations of electron theory, which allow for the fact that electric charges are always connected with particles having a mass, whereas Maxwell's original equations do not contain the concept of mass. A physical explanation for this is offered, and attention is given to the creation of the singularity in Maxwell's equations that make sit impossible to obtain the associated magnetic field strength without some limit process.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>