On the electromagnetic energy density and energy transfer rate in a medium with dispersion due to conduction

Abstract

The simplest dispersion relation determined by dissipation due to conduction is considered; the electromagnetic energy density in a plane monochromatic wave and its (phase and group) velocity are determined, as well as the energy and momentum transfer rates. It is shown that the energy density at low frequencies in this case has the form of the electrostatic density, in which the permittivity is replaced by its real part, and the energy transfer rate in a plane electromagnetic wave is equal to the phase velocity. The group velocity may exceed the speed of light.