On electric-magnetic duality and related problems

Abstract: Electric-magnetic duality is an intriguing symmetry underlying the basic mathematical model of the electromagnetic field theory - Maxwell Equations. This symmetry has an interesting property: it does not admit simple (Lagrangian) formulations that manifest it. Furthermore, it is seemingly broken in the real world by the presence of matter that has only electric charges. Thus, both theoretical challenges and questionable practical usefulness of this symmetry do not encourage the development of new formulations that make use of it. However, there are related theoretical models that require such formulations. We will discuss a new formulation of electromagnetic field theory and its generalizations, that combines the manifest electric-magnetic duality symmetry with manifest space-time symmetries.

ArmenianHEP - theorymathematical physicsanalysis of PDEs

Audience: general audience

( paper )

Comments: talk host: Zhirayr Avetisyan (the language can be Armenian or English, depending on the choice of the audience)

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Yerevan Mathematical Colloquium

Series comments: "Yerevan Mathematical Colloquium" invites survey talks aimed at a general mathematical audience, that emphasize proof methods, relations between branches of mathematics, possible applications, and open problems.

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