Generalised Maxwell theories - theoretical structure and experimental tests

电磁场是物理学中最重要的系统之一。我们正在接收的所有信息和正在进行的所有测量都依赖于电动力学。虽然麦克斯韦方程非常成功地描述了所有的电磁现象，但有理由重新考虑这一理论：(I)电动力学的标准公式导致带电粒子自力问题(辐射反应)的严重问题。一种是非物理的预加速度以及失控的解决方案。(2)在建立广义(和狭义)相对论时空几何的建设性公理方法中，光的独特性质发挥着重要作用。电动力学现象的任何修正也将与修正的时空几何学直接相关。这也与(Iii)寻找量子引力理论有关。由于根据我们目前的理解，广义相对论和量子理论在理论上是不兼容的，一个结合了我们世界的几何和量子方面的新理论必须与这些理论中的至少一个不同，为了一致性，这些理论也会改变麦克斯韦方程。因此，最重要的是找出所有电磁现象背后的方程是著名的麦克斯韦方程，还是必须考虑修改。因此，我们必须以一种结构化的方式讨论所有可能的修改，然后探索这些修改的实验意义。因此，我们将以系统的方式继续讨论麦克斯韦方程的非线性、非局部和非齐次扩展。对于这些修正，我们讨论了波的传播，点源的定常解，包括自力的带电粒子的运动方程，氢原子，以及电磁约束系统的等效原理。虽然计划中的调查是理论上的，但考虑到实验，它也将具有很高的相关性：它将对已经完成的实验提供额外或新的解释，它还将建议专门研究麦克斯韦方程特定方面的新实验。如果事实证明这些方程可能会有修改，所有的测量和观察都必须重新解释。奥尔良人和不来梅人是世界上在这一研究领域最活跃的群体之一。该项目将受益于共同和互补的专门知识的混合。这两个组织都与顶级国际合作有关。协调员、其他申请者和其他同事将是一个强大的合作小组，以便就拟议的工作计划开展工作。

The electromagnetic field is one of the most important system in physics. All the information we are receiving and all measurements we are doing rely on electrodynamics. Though the Maxwell equations provide an extremely successful description of all electromagnetic phenomena there are reasons to reconsider this theory: (i) The standard formulation of electrodynamics leads to severe problems in the self-force problem (radiation reaction) of charged point particles. One derives unphysical pre-acceleration as well as run-away solutions. (ii) In constructive axiomatic approaches to establish the space-time geometry of General (and Special) Relativity the unique properties of light play an essential role. Any modification of the phenomena of electrodynamics will also be directly related to a modified space-time geometry. This is also related to (iii) the search for a theory of Quantum Gravity. Since according to our present understanding General Relativity and Quantum Theory are theoretically not compatible, a new theory combining the geometric and quantum aspects of our world has to be different from at least one of these theories what, for consistency, also would change the Maxwell equations. Accordingly, it is of utmost importance to find out whether the equations underlying all electromagnetic phenomena are the well-known Maxwell equations or whether one has to take into account modifications.Accordingly, we have to discuss all possible modifications in a structured way and then to explore the experimental significance of these modifications. Thereby we will proceed in a systematic way in that we discuss non-linear, non-local and non-homogeneous extensions of the Maxwell equations. For these modifications we discuss wave propagation, stationary solutions for point sources, the equation of motion for charged particles including self-force, the hydrogen atom, and the Equivalence Principle for electromagnetically bound systems. Whereas the planned investigation is theoretical, it will also be of high relevance in view of experiments: It will provide additional or new interpretations of experiments that have already been done, and it will also suggest new experiments dedicated to particular aspects of the Maxwell equations. If it turns out that there might be modifications of these equations all measurements and observations have to be re-interpreted.Orléans and Bremen are amongst the most active groups worldwide in this research area. This project will benefit from a mixture of common and complementary expertise. Both groups are connected to top-level international collaborations. The coordinators, additional applicants together with further co-workers will be a strong collaborating team in order to work on the proposed work plan.