Energy-momentum tensor for the electromagnetic field in a dispersive medium

Abstract

On the basis of a non-local Lagrangian for Maxwell equations in a dispersive medium, the energy-momentum tensor of the field is derived. We obtain the Field equations through variational methods and an extension of Noether theorem for a non-local Lagrangian is obtained as well. The electromagnetic energy-momentum tensor obtained in the general context is then specialized to the case of a field with slowly varying amplitude on a rapidly oscillating carrier.