Abstract
Abstract Variational principles in which the Lagrangian is a scalar density and a function of a metric tensor and a vector field, together with their first derivatives, are investigated in a 4-dimensional space. Associated with such Lagrangians are two expressions, the metric Euler-Lagrange expression and the vector Euler-Lagrange expression. The most general Lagrangians (of this kind) for which either of these Euler-Lagrange expressions vanishes identically, are obtained. The most general Lagrangian (of this kind) for which the vector Euler-Lagrange equations are precisely Maxwell's equations is obtained. Although this Lagrangian is more general than the one commonly used, it still has essentially the same energy-momentum tensor. The most general Lagrangian (of this kind) for which the metric Euler-Lagrange expression is precisely the electromagnetic energy-momentum tensor is derived. Although this Lagrangian is also more general than the one commonly used, the associated vector Euler-Lagrange equations ...
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